Police officer accused of impregnating teen
Mbalachanda Police Unit officer-in-charge Paul Kuchawo is facing rape and defilement charges following revelations that he made a 15-year-old girl pregnant.
The case, which was to be heard on Wednesday in Euthini Second Grade Magistrate’s Court, has meanwhile been referred to a higher court in Mzuzu.
The charges were placed by the girl’s parents with the help of gender activists.
Mzimba Police spokesperson Gabriel Chiona said it is alleged Kuchawo had been in a relationship with the girl since last year.
Chiona further said Kuchawo is alleged to have threatened to shoot her if she revealed about the affair and the girl complied even during her pregnancy.
Said Chiona: “We cannot say much at present because the issue is in court.”
He, however, said they expect justice to prevail because nobody is above the law.
The girl’s mother, Eliza Banda, said: “My daughter is very young and is supposed to write Junior Certificate of Education examinations soon.”
Banda said the girl kept secret the identity of the man who made her pregnant until after she delivered.
She said it was only after the intervention of gender advocates who cater for her education that she opened up.
She said: “The suspect accepted responsibility and admitted that he slept with her twice. All we want now is justice to prevail because we are failing to support the baby.”
This issue comes hot on the heels of news that the court in Chitipa jailed five police officers for 14 years each for robbery.
