High Court judge Dick Sankhulani sitting in Zomba yesterday sentenced police officer Twalick Mpaweni to 24 years imprisonment for defiling a 14-year-old girl in 2023.
While reading the judgement, Sankhulani recalled that on August 27 2023 the minor in question was arrested for stealing clothes in Traditional Authority Mwambo in the district.
previous court appearance. | Holyce Kholowa
He said despite that the minor was in custody at Kachulu Police Post pending justice, Mpaweni demanded sex from her in exchange for her unconditional release, which happened.
The judge said Mpaweni deserved a custodial sentence on three grounds. First, he took advantage of the suspect because she was a minor; the defilement was planned as well as that he betrayed public’s trust in the police.
“Psychological trauma caused on the minor may cost her lifetime,” said the judge.
“Offences of this nature are becoming rampant among police officers in the country; hence, the sentence,” said the judge
He clarified that the sentence is with effect from August 2024 when Mpaweni was arrested, but further said if the convict was not satisfied with the sentence, he can appeal to the Supreme Court within 30 days.
Malawi Legal Aid Bureau’s legal aid advocate Henleck Ching’anda, who represented Mpaweni in the case, acknowledged the sentence, saying it is fair compared to the State’s earlier demand that he be given a 45-year sentence.
“If Mpaweni wishes to appeal to the Supreme Court we are ready to represent him,” Ching’anda said.
