The Principal Resident Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe has sentenced 56-year-old man – Lekias Bikoko to 21 years in prison for defiling and impregnating his 15-year-old stepdaughter before procuring abortion for her.

According to State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Florence Mlanje, the convict committed the crimes between November 2020 and March 2021 in Lilongwe.

She said: “Initially, the court learnt that Bikoko got advised by the herbalist to either sleep with his stepdaughter or render himself impotent as a ritual to get rich.

“The convict opted to defile the victim, got her pregnant and then administered her drugs to abort the pregnancy, leading to serious complications.”

During his trial, Bikoko denied the charge, prompting the state to parade four witnesses to prove its case.

Prosecutor Mlanje argued that the victim has some mental problems and had gone a lot through the sexual assault and abortion complications; hence the plea to give the accused a lengthy sentence.

Passing sentence, Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe condemned Bikoko for subjecting the girl to what he called unspeakable horror.

He then convicted and sentence Bikoko to 21 years imprisonment for the first count of defilement and three years for the second of procuring an abortion; the sentences will run concurrently.

Bikoko comes from Mnjolo Village, T/A Chauma in Dedza District.