2 chiefs, 6 advisers jailedover defilement case
Kasiya First Grade Magistrate’s Court in Lilongwe on Friday sentenced two traditional leaders and their six advisers to 18 months imprisonment for conspiracy to defeat justice and interference with witnesses.
The eight are group village head (GVH)Mkwekwete, village head Mandindi and advisers Chaseta Mussa, Justin Bisayi, Lambulira Kamtchotsa, Chipiliro John, Kiliniwero Chidzalo and Hadison Chafukira.
Lilongwe Police Station deputy spokesperson Foster Benjamin said prosecutor Chancy Chikhola of Kasiya Police Station, told the court that, GVH Mkwekwete’s brother (name with held to protect the victim) defiled a 13-year-old girl in November last year in Mandindi’s area and fled.
being led to prison
The court heard that upon his return in February this year, the suspect pleaded with his sister, GVH Mkwekwete, to convince village head Mandindi and the victim’s parents not to report the matter to police.
A traditional court hearing was then arranged at village head Mandindi’s court and the chiefs ordered the suspect to pay a fine of K150 000 out of which village head Mandindi got K50 000 while the victim was compensated with K100 000.
When police heard about it they arrested the traditional leaders and advisers and the accused. They pleaded not guilty.
But the State paraded two witnesses to prove its case. This led the court to convict the suspects.
In mitigation, the convicts prayed for a lesser sentence on grounds that they were first offenders and have family and communal responsibilities.
But presiding Magistrate Mervis Sulumba sentenced the accused to 18 months.
Meanwhile, the alleged defiler is in police custody pending trial.
