The Zomba Senior Resident Magistrate Court has convicted and sentenced a 32-year-old herbalist, Grey Mcford, to 28 years imprisonment for defiling two teenage girls aged between 10 and 12.

According to Zomba Police Station Public Relations Officer, Sgt Patricia Sipiliano, the court heard that on June 11, 2017, Macford, who was based at Govala, sent the girls on an errand to fetch water for him and paid them K50 each.

The following day the convict invited the girls and tricked them to draw “tattoos of fortune” on their foreheads and promised them that the tattoos will help them source money without difficulties.

Sgt Sipiliano said the convict demanded the girls to undress and warned that death will befell them if they disobey the instructions from what he called “the mighty spirits”.

Fortunately one of the girls managed to escape and reported the matter to her parents who reported the same to Zomba Police Station.

Later Macfold was arrested and the girls were referred to Zomba Central hospital for medical examination.

Gery Mcford hails from Ganeti village in the area of Traditional Authority Kaduya in Phalombe district.