Chisenjere First Grade Magistrate Court in Chileka Blantyre has sentenced Rodrick Felex, 19, to four years imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old mentally challenged girl.

The court heard that the suspect defiled the girl child on June 16, 2024, at Kalombola village in the district.

The suspect found the child at home while the mother to the victim was away after she left home for church, and he enticed the 12-year girl with K100 in exchange for sexual intercourse while taking advantage of her mental illness.

But some well-wishers caught the suspect red-handed while having sex with the child, and they handed him over to Chileka Police Station where the girl was referred to Chileka Health Centre for examination and treatment, hence confirming the defilement.

In mitigation, the convict pleaded for leniency, stating that it was just an illusion and was absent minded.

But in her sentence, First Grade Magistrate Kitty Nkhono agreed with the state on all presented facts and convicted Felex to four years imprisonment with hard labour.