Man gets 72 months IHL for burglary, attempted defilement

The First Grade Magistrate’s Court sitting at Nanyumbu in Machinga on May 2 this year convicted and sentenced 55 year-old Ephraim Adaki to 72 months and 60 months imprisonment with hard labour for burglary and for attempting to defile a 13- year-old girl, respectively.

Speaking in an interview on Saturday, Machinga police spokesperson, Davie Sulumba said State prosecutor, Gift Kalamula of Nselema Police station told the court that the convict committed the offences during the night of April 5-6 this year at Ntonda Village in the district.

According to Sulumba, Kalamula told the court that on the material day, the victim was sleeping with her friend in their house which is just a stone’s throw from Adaki’s house.

“She then felt that someone was removing her petticoat and her underwear and shouted for help. When people came to the house, the convict started running away but after a short chase, they caught him,” he said.

Adaki revealed he wanted to have sexual intercourse with the girl although there was no agreement between them.

The matter was reported to Nselema Police Post where he was placed under police custody and later charged with burglary and attempted defilement contrary to Sections 309 and 138 (2) of the Penal Code.

But when he was taken to court he denied both charges forcing the police to parade four witnesses who proved the case against the convict and that at the end of the trial, the court found him guilty of both counts.

In mitigation, the convict pleaded with the court to exercise leniency when passing sentence saying he is a first offender.

Passing sentence, first grade magistrate, Jones Masula convicted and sentenced the convict to 72 months for burglary and 60 months for attempted defilement and that sentences are going to run concurrently.

Adaki hails from Ntonda Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Nyambi in the district.