Malawian soldier sent to prison for rape

The Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate Court has sentenced Diof Simaone, a former soldier and footballer from Kamuzu Barracks, to 20 years in prison after he was found guilty of defiling and impregnating a 15-year-old girl.

In delivering the judgment, Senior Resident Magistrate Bracious Kondowe stated that the court received evidence indicating that Simaone committed the act between April and August of this year.

“This sentence serves as a warning to others, particularly given Simaone’s position of responsibility,” Kondowe remarked.

The court was informed that the crime took place over a span of five months, leading to the victim’s pregnancy.

Kondowe emphasized that the sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the necessity to discourage similar offenses, particularly by individuals in authoritative roles.