Man jailed 14 years for having sexual intercourse with a minor
First Grade Magistrate (FGM) in Chitipa has convicted and sentenced Joseph Kaonga, 22 to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour (IHL) for having sexual intercourse with a 13-year- old, standard 5 girl in the district.
The court heard through the state prosecutor, Sergeant Samuel Ndafewa that Kaonga had sexual intercourse with the victim three times in the bush during night of 18-19 September, 2024 and gave her a packet of biscuit, Energy drink and K 2,200 so that she should not reveal to anybody about the matter.
But the matter was reported to Chitipa Police Station and Kaonga was arrested and charged with the offence of having sexual intercourse with a (minor) female child contrary to section 138(1) of the Penal Code.
Appearing before the magistrate court, Kaonga denied the charge, prompting the state to parade three witnesses who testified against him and proved the case beyond reasonable doubts.
The court found him guilty of the counts and in submission, Sergeant Samuel Ndafewa prayed for a stiffer punishment citing the convict that offence committed is a felony in nature and is punishable with life imprisonment and that the convict is dangerous to society who needs to be separated from society.
“Ndafewa added that the convict planned to commit the offence and should be taught a lesson to detar other would be offenders,” said Constable Mathews Mfune Assistant Public Relations Officer for Chitipa Police Station.
In mitigation, Kaonga asked for the court’s leniency saying he is a first offender and a breadwinner for his family, adding that he committed the offence while drunk.
Passing the sentence, First Grade Magistrate Billy Ngosi concurred with the state saying such cases impose permanent psychological trauma to the victims, hence he sentenced Kaonga to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.
Joseph Kaonga hails from Sambala village in the area of Senior Chief Mwaulambia in Chitipa district.
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