‘Bad uncle’ sent to prison

A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to six years’ imprisonment with hard labour for indecently assaulting his 10-year-old niece in Karonga District.

The Karonga First Grade Magistrate’s Court convicted and sentenced Langfield Kalambo of Mwambuli Village, Traditional Authority Kyungu, after he pleaded guilty to the offence.

Karonga Police Station Deputy Public Relations Officer Constable Margret Msiska said the court heard that Kalambo committed the offence after returning home from drinking at around 23:00 hours.

“Instead of going to his bedroom, he went to the room where the victim was sleeping with other family members and started touching her private parts while she was fast asleep,” Msiska told Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Thursday.

She said the girl woke up and screamed for help, prompting her mother and other family members to rush to the room, where they caught Kalambo in the act before reporting him to police.

In mitigation, Kalambo asked the court for a lighter sentence, claiming he had not intended to commit the offence and promising not to repeat it.

However, State Prosecutor Sergeant Brighton Mpombeza asked the court to impose a stiffer sentence, arguing that the incident had traumatised the young victim.

Mpombeza further told the court that Kalambo, as the girl’s uncle, was expected to protect her rather than abuse her.

In his ruling, First Grade Magistrate Julius Kalambo agreed with the State and sentenced the accused to six years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

By Daniel Mkandawire- Malawi News Agency.