The Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court in Dowa has sentenced a 32-year-old man Masautso Mc Joy to two years in prison for the offences of child abduction and defilement.

The court heard that Mc Joy abducted a 17-year-old girl to his home without the consent from her parents between the months of July to October 2020.

The incident happened after the girl had sat for Primary School Leaving Certificate Examinations (PLSCE).

The court further heard that the girl’s parents later withdraw her from the marriage while pregnant.

In her ruling, Senior Resident Magistrate Cecilia Onsewa sentenced Mc Joy to two years in prison with hard labour for the count of defilement and 18 months for abduction.

The sentences will run concurrently.