Senior Resident Magistrate court in Mchinji has sentenced Innocent Ignacio Senzo (40) to 21 years Imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL) for defilement, contrary to section 138(1) of the Penal code.

The Central West Region PRO Inspector, Alfred Chimthere said the Court heard through Police Prosecutor Sub-inspector, Eugenio Yotamu that in November 2020, Senzo defiled a one-year-old neighbour’s daughter.

Yotamu submitted that Senzo, sexually abused the little girl persistently and It happened as the mother of the girl entrusted him in taking care of the kid whilst she went for prayers at Bunda Mountain in Lilongwe.

Chimthere said Senzo pleaded not guilty to the offence and the state adduced overwhelming evidence to pin him down.

The Prosecutor asked for a stiffer sentence to deter other would-be offenders.

In mitigation, Senzo asked for the Court’s leniency, citing his age and that he was a first offender.

Senior Resident Magistrate, Eliya Zawanda said that cases of sexual abuse, especially defilement, require stern punishment, hence slapped the accused person to 21 years IHL.

Senzo hails from Masautso village in Traditional Authority (TA) Zulu in Mchinji district.