Ntcheu Senior Resident Magistrate Court has sentenced Henry Davie, 19 and Chimwemwe Maulidi, 18 to six years imprisonment with hard labour each for the offence of rape.

According to Malawi News Agency (Mana), State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Beatrice Dzuka, told the court that on December 26, 2022, the two went to a certain bar at Manjawira, where they found the victim, who is a sex worker.

The two proposed to have sex with her, but she refused. Later on, at around 22:00hrs, the victim decided to go home, and on her way, she noticed the two following her, and in no time, they grabbed and raped her one after another.

Appearing before court, the two denied the charges levelled against them, prompting the State to parade four witnesses who testified against them.

In mitigation, the two asked for leniency, saying they are still young and first offenders.

In submission, State Prosecutor, Dzuka asked the court for a stiffer punishment for the accused, saying the offence committed was a serious one in nature and that despite the victim being a sex worker, she has the right not to have sexual intercourse with someone without her consent.

In his ruling, Senior Resident Magistrate Joshua Nkhono sentenced Davie and Maulidi to six years IHL.

Henry Davie comes from Manjawira Village while and Chimwemwe Maulidi comes from Kawala Village both from Sub Traditional Authority Tsikulamowa in Ntcheu.

Mana/mk/thz