Salima Police Public Relations Officer, Sub Inspector Gift Chitowe said the suspect has been defiling his 11 year old step daughter from February until 04th May, 2017 when the girl revealed the incident.

“It was heard that a 11 year old girl was sent to the market by her mother and she took long before returning home. The delay angered both parents but more so the step-father who decided to follow up the girl and upon finding her at the market, he started whipping her right at the market. This prompted the girl to disclose that the father used to sleep with her,” explained Chitowe.

According to Chitowe, the step-father used to threaten the victim not to disclose the issue to anyone.

“The step-father could even sneak from their bedroom into her bedroom to have sex with the girl while her mother was asleep, threatening her that if she dared to reveal she would be murdered,” he said.

The suspect, Andrew Banda 36 hails from Mikute Village, Traditional Authority Maganga in Salima district. He is expected to appear before the court soon to answer defilement charges.