Law Society intervenes on molested woman
The Malawi Law Society (MLS) has intervened in the matter of a mentally disturbed woman who was recently undressed in broad daylight in the streets of Limbe, Blantyre, and exposed to public ridicule.
MLS honorary secretary Michael Goba Chipeta said his office obtained a court order to take the woman to Zomba Mental Hospital for appropriate therapy.
He observed that the woman’s treatment in public was a violation of human rights; hence, the society’s decision to jump in to intervene.
He said the society was currently waiting for feedback from the hospital before taking up the next step which will be dependent on the doctor’s assessment.
The woman is said to have started showing signs of mental instability in 2010 and it is feared that due to her condition and the actions of undressing in public she may have been sexually assaulted by men.
Police arrested four people, including Bob Kopeka, who allegedly offered the woman money to undress. Her naked pictures went viral on the social media.
Kopeka, currently on bail, was charged with the offence of insulting the modesty of a woman under Section 137 (3) of the Penal Code while his three accomplices were charged with indecent assault under Section 137 (1) of the Penal Code.
The incident received extensive censure from human rights agencies including the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare and the Ombudsman’s office.
Ombudsman Martha Mwangonde Chizuma accused the police of missing an opportunity to arrest more suspects during the time of the incident when they were rescuing the woman.
The pictures of the lady show scores of people on the scene watching the sorry sight while some physically molest her.
