14 years for raping 10-year-old sister in law

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Mangochi

A court in Machinga district has sentenced Patrick Gambatula, 20, to 14 years imprisonment for raping his 10-year-old sister in-law.

When presenting facts in court, Machinga Police Station prosecutor, Rodrick Kamuona, told the court that Gambatula married the victim’s elder sister and on May 4 this year he visited his father in-law at Mjahito village in the area of Traditional Authority Liwonde.

At the house, he only found the young girl and he later asked her to escort him.

On the way, the rapist dragged the little girl into a garden where he raped her.

When she got back home, the victim told her father what had happened. The matter was reported to Ntaja Police post who arrested Gambatula.

The rapist pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement and prosecutor Kamuona asked court to impose a stiff penalty to the convict saying the offence he committed is a serious one, commonly takes place in the area and many have been convicted but no change has been seen in the community.

In mitigation the convict asked for lenient sentence for he is a bread winner but Machinga First Grade Magistrate Johns Masula sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.

The rapist Gambatula hails from Mjahito village, Traditional Authority Liwonde in Machinga District.