The Senior Resident Magistrate Court in Dowa has sentenced 27-year-old Chikumbutso Kholowa to 16 years in prison with hard labour for the offences of defilement and indecent assault.

State prosecutor Sub Inspector Ezara Bakili told the court that Kholowa of Kankhande Village, Traditional Authority Mkukula, indecently assaulted and defiled a 14-year-old girl after enticing her with charms.

“The convict asked the girl if she plays netball of which she admitted and the convict later told the girl that he will give her charms for her to be playing netball in a peculiar way. The convict produced some charms before indecently assaulting and defiling her in the maize field,” Bakili said.

Passing judgement, Senior Resident Magistrate Agnes Sekandiwana said Kholowa needed a stiff punishment and sentenced the convict to 16 years imprisonment for the first count of defilement and 5 years imprisonment for the second count of indecent assault.

The sentences will run concurrently.