The Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Zomba has sentenced a thirty- six -year-old man to eighteen years imprisonment for defiling a fifteen -year-old girl.

The convict, Elson Kapingu, commited the offence on 22 July, 2017 and was arrested by police two days later.

According to Police Prosecutor, Inspector Gladys Jentala, the girl is Kapingu’s in-law who is currently pregnant and has also dropped out of school.

The case was presided over by Chief Resident Magistrate Texious Masoamphambe.

“What Kapingu did to the girl was very evil and deserves a stiffer punishment to deter would be offenders,” he said.

“I am now sentencing you to eighteen years imprisonment with hard labour.”

Elson Kaping hails from Nsongolo village, Traditional Authority (TA) Mlumbe in Zomba district.