The Dowa First Grade Magistrate’s Court on Monday convicted and sentenced a 30-year-old Congolese man to 30 months imprisonment with hard labour for indecent assault.

The court through state prosecutor Christopher Daluni heard that the convict Heri Ziarois on the night of February 15, 2020 in Kawale location at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in the district of Dowa unlawfully and indecently assaulted a 14-year-old fellow Congolese girl.

The court further heard that on this particular night, the girl was coming from Kawale location within Dzaleka Refugee Camp to collect money from her friend who stays in the same location.

On her way back, she met the convict who stopped her and told her that her other friend who stays in United States of America (USA) has sent her money amounting to K100, 000.

The convict further told the girl to accompany him to his house to collect the money and told her that before giving her the money, he (convict) should give him something as a token of appreciation.

It was further learnt in court that the convict then started touching the girl’s breasts and her private part.

Later, it was known that the girl’s friend who stays in United States of America did not send the said money to her.

The matter was reported to police, leading to the arrest of the accused person.

Appearing before court, the convict pleaded not guilty to a charge of indecent assault. This prompted the state to parade four witnesses leading to his conviction.

In his submission, state prosecutor Daluni asked the court to pass a stiff punishment to the offender to send as a caution to other would be offenders.

Passing sentence, First Grade Magistrate Amran Phiri concurred with the state’s submission and sentenced him to 30 months imprisonment with hard labour to send as a caution to others with similar intentions.

The convict comes from South Kivu Province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).