…Escapes life imprisonment after impregnating child
A Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldier and former Kamuzu Barracks footballer, Diof Simaone, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for defiling and impregnating a 15-year-old girl. Simaone escaped the maximum sentence of life imprisonment provided for defilement under Malawi’s Penal Code.
Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate Bracious Kondowe handed down the sentence after finding Simaone guilty of defilement.
The court heard that Simaone defiled the girl between April and August 2026, over a period of about five months, resulting in her becoming pregnant.
“The court is handing down this sentence as a warning to others, considering the position of responsibility that Simaone held,” Kondowe said.
Kondowe said the 20-year custodial sentence reflects the gravity of the offence and is intended to deter others, particularly people in positions of authority, from committing similar offences.
Under section 138 of Malawi’s Penal Code, having carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16 constitutes defilement, an offence which can attract life imprisonment.
The Penal Code also contains specific provisions dealing with sexual offences against children, including sexual activity with a child under section 160B. In passing sentence, Kondowe said the court considered the seriousness of the offence and Simaone’s position of responsibility.
