Chief Resident Magistrate Patrick Chirwa has denied bail to Stuart Kalungama who is suspected to have defiled his 9-year old stepdaughter in Lilongwe.

Kalungama, who appeared in Court today, was arrested by police in Lilongwe.

Commenting on the court`s ruling, gender rights activist Dr Jessie Kabwila commended the Court for denying Kalungama bail.

“I want to commend our Judiciary that they didn’t give him [Kalungama] bail, I think that sends a warning shot and strengths our trust in the system.

“Because even I was listening to the reasons why bail was denied, I could see that at the center of the reasoning was a girl child and the challenges that she is need to put in through,” said Dr Kabwila.

She however bemoaned the tendency of some people in the country for sharing pictures of the survivor on various social media platforms.

“I want to make a plea to everybody to stop circulating the pictures of the family because this is increasing the stigma of the young girl and you are making her to have this over her head throughout her life,” said Dr Kabwila.

The case has since been adjourned to March 15, 2021.