The Mchinji Senior Resident Magistrate Court sitting at Mikundi has sentenced a 23-year-old man to 10 years in prison for having sexual intercourse with and impregnating a 16-year-old girl.
The court heard that Samson Daniel appeared before a mobile court on Monday, where State Prosecutor Anusa Elias asked for a custodial sentence to deter others from committing similar offences.
Elias said the sentence would help send a strong message to the community about the consequences of sexual abuse against girls.
In mitigation, Defence Lawyer Counsel Edith Kaliza of the Malawi Legal Aid Bureau asked the court for leniency, arguing that Daniel was a first offender and was young.
Magistrate Court sitting Mikundi
However, Senior Resident Magistrate Godfrey Nyirenda said he has considered the defence’s submissions but found that a custodial sentence was necessary.
The magistrate subsequently sentenced Daniel to 10 years’ imprisonment, effective from the date of his arrest.
The mobile court is supported by the NORAD Framework through Save the Children’s TIKUMA Programme.
Meanwhile, GENET, an implementing partner of the TIKUMA Programme in Mchinji, said it will continue taking mobile courts to communities to help protect women and girls from abuse.
The organisation also encouraged members of the public to report cases of abuse to relevant authorities through its communications officer, Alexander Mkandawire.
