Senior Resident Magistrate's Court in the district convicted and sentenced the man, Twaibu Pondani, after pleading guilty to the charge of defilement which is contrary to Section 309 of the Penal Code.

The court, through state prosecutor Sub Inspector Regina Makwinja, heard that the convict is a neighbor to the victim and he used to chat with her and took an advantage to defile the girl more than once.

Sub Inspector Makwinja further told the court that the matter came to light in January this year when the mother of the girl noticed some changes in the appearance of the girl.

“Upon being quizzed, the girl revealed to have been defiled twice by Pondani who also accepted the responsibility of the pregnancy,” said the state prosecutor.

In mitigation, Pondani asked for leniency, saying he acted ignorantly. But in her submission, Makhwinja prayed for stiff sentence, citing the conduct of the convict is uncalled for.

Passing his sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate, Joshua Nkhono, concurred with the state and slapped him with 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labor to deter other would be office offenders.

Twaibu Pondani, hails from Makhasu Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba district.