Man earns five years for indecent assault on two minors in Mzimba

The Mzimba First Grade Magistrate’s court on March 06, 2024, convicted and sentenced a 51-year-old Man, Musa Ali Phiri, to five years imprisonment with hard labour for abduction and indecently assaulting two girls at Jenda in the district.

Presenting the facts in court, the state Prosecutor Sergeant Reverand Gondwe said Phiri abducted two 6-year-old girls on August 15, from 6 AM up to 1 AM on August 16, 2023.

He told the court that Phiri took the minors to an unknown place where he started playing with their private parts, after lying to them that he will buy them snacks. He further said Phiri later dumped the girls close their home around 1 AM. The girls revealed the ordeal to their parents that led to the arrest of the convict.

Appearing before court, Phiri pleaded not guilty to the offences, which prompted the state to parade five witnesses to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.

In mitigation Phiri asked the court for leniency stating that he is the bread winner for his family, he has two wives and if convicted his families will suffer.

Gondwe, however, asked for a stiffer punishment bearing in mind that the convict was a neighbour to these minors and took advantage of the trust the kids had placed on him. He further said the girls were too young, at the age of six they were expecting protection from him. Also stating that cases carry a maximum sentence of 14 years.

In passing the sentence, Magistrate Loness Gumbo concurred with the state and slapped Phiri to five years’ imprisonment with hard labour for indecent assault on females and two years for abduction of girls under the age of 16 contrary to sections 136(1) and 135 of the penal code respectively. The cases to run concurrently.

Phiri hails from Mpunga village, Traditional Authority Kawinga in Machinga district.