By Aubrey Kashoni-Mana

The Senior Residence Magistrate court in Thyolo District has sentenced a 54-year-old man to 18 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a five-year-old girl.

Thyolo Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Rabecca Kashoti said the court through State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Abigail Mayuni was informed that on April 22, 2021, the mother of the girl discovered a strange fluid on the child’s private part as she was bathing her and when asked, the girl told her mother that the grandfather had defiled her.

“Later, police arrested the man on the same day and charged him with defilement contrary to Section 138 of the Penal Code.

“Appearing in court, he pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement, prompting the state to parade three witnesses who testified against him,” said Kashoti.

In mitigation, the convict asked for the court’s leniency saying he is an elderly man hence he will not survive in prison.

However, the state prosecutor told the court that these cases are increasing in the district and asked the court to give a stiff penalty to deter would be offenders.

Passing the judgment, Senior Resident Magistrate Asunta Maxwell concurred with the state and sentenced Peter Moses to 18 years IHL.