18 years IHL for defilement

The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate court, on January 26, 2023, convicted and sentenced Jossam Kambalawira, to 18 years imprisonment with hard labor for defiling a five-year-old girl.

The offense happened on May 2, 2020, in Mtsiliza.

The court heard through police prosecutor Sub Inspector Tisungane Makiyi, that on the material day, the accused person called the victim to give her some sweets. He then took her into the maize field where he defiled her. 

Makiyi further told the court that the accused person threatened the victim never to reveal, otherwise, she would be killed.

Since the child was in great pain, she could not keep the secret but, she revealed everything to her mother.

In court, Jossan pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement. 
This prompted the state to parade five witnesses to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

In submission, the state asked the court to slap the accused with stiffer punishment saying that the case is aggravated in nature.
And that defilement cases are becoming rampant countrywide.

In mitigation, Jossam prayed to the court for leniency when passing its sentence saying that he has overstayed on remand since the year 2020.

Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Montfort Misunje, concurred with the state that cases of defilement are becoming rampant, thereby destroying the lives of innocent girls.

Misunje then went on to sentence Jossam to 18 years imprisonment with hard labor to serve as a deterrent to other would-be offenders.

Jossam Kambalawira, 21, hails from Khwakwa Village in Traditional Authority Malili, Lilongwe.