Man jailed 21 years for raping mentally challenged girl

The Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court in Nkhata Bay District has on November 2, 2023 convicted and sentenced a 32-year-old man, Aaron Mphande, to 21 years imprisonment with hard labour for having sexual intercourse with an 18-year-old mentally challenged girl in the district.

The court through state prosecutor Sub Inspector Andrew Singini heard that on October 5, 2023 the girl accompanied her mother to a nearby village to cheer their relative who was sick.

As they were coming back around 14:00 hours the victim’s mother wanted to hurry in order to reach home in good time to prepare food for other children who had gone to school. She left her daughter behind.

Time passed without seeing her daughter arriving at home. She decided to follow, only to find the suspect coming from the bush with the girl.

The mother suspected that something fishy had happened to the girl, she called other villagers to help her arresting the suspect who started running away.

Upon being arrested, he was taken to Mzenga Police Unit where he was charged with having sexual intercourse with a girl with mental disability which is contrary to Section 139 of the Penal Code.

During his first appearance in court, the suspect denied the charge that prompted the state to parade four witness who testified against him until he was found guilty and duly convicted.

In his submission, state prosecutor Sub Inspector Singini said the convict committed a serious offence that attracts life imprisonment. Singini added that the convict by the time he was committing the offence, knew the victim’s status such that he would have taken the role of protecting her. He asked the court to consider all factors and pass maximum sentence to deter would be offenders.

In mitigation, Mphande said he takes care of his sick mother who will suffer should he sent to prison. He prayed for leniency

Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Mateo Chitha quashed the mitigating factor and concurred with the state’s submission, He therefore ordered for a 21 year jail term effective from the date of his arrest.

Aaron Mphande hails from Kabalinji Village in Traditional Authority Kabunduli in Nkhata Bay District.