The Chief Resident Magistrate Court in Zomba has sentenced 18-year-old Yamikani Matiki to 13 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a two year old child.

According to Deputy Public Relations Officer for Zomba police station, Sergeant Patrick Maseko, Matiki committed the offense on 3rd April 2019 after taking advantage of the absence of the mother to the victim who left the child and went to the market.

Maseko said: “The court heard from Sub Inspector Kesten Chimwala, a prosecutor for Jali Police Post, that on 3rd April, 2019, the victim’s mother went to the market leaving her playing with friends until Matiki, who is a neighbor to the victim, took advantage of the mother’s absence and dragged the child behind his house where he defiled her.”

“The matter was then reported to Jali police post and the victim was later referred to hospital for further examination where medical results proved that the child was indeed defiled.”

Thereafter Matiki was arrested by the police and was later charged with an offense of defilement.

Appearing before the court, Matiki pleaded guilty to the charge leveled against him.

In his submission before the sentence, the State Prosecutor told the court that despite the convict being the first offender, he does not deserve a suspended sentence saying the behavior portrayed by him is inhuman and deserves a stiff custodial sentence.

His Worship Senior Resident Magistrate Rhodrick Stephen Michongwe concurred with the state saying the victim has been physically and psychologically tortured therefore the convict deserves a stiffer punishment

Yamikani Matiki hails from Lepo village, Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba district.