Balaka Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court has convicted and sentenced Lilian Matako and Ishmael Chitete to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour. The sentences have been suspended to 480 hours of community service each after they pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a nine-year-old girl in Balaka District.
According to Balaka Police Public Relations Officer, Gladson M’bumpha, the sentences were passed by Senior Resident Magistrate Joshua Nkhono. The suspended sentences of community service will be served at Balaka Police Station Victim Support Unit (VSU) and the Social Welfare Office in Balaka District for easy monitoring and supervision.
“The court considered passing such a sentence because the convict is a single parent and the victim has no other guardian besides the convict. The third offender, Ishmael Chitete, was considered for his age and the fact that he was told by the victim’s mother to help assault the victim and both being first offenders,” said M’bumpha.
The two were arrested earlier this month on two different occasions for committing an offence intended to cause grievous harm to a nine-year-old Mercy Magombo at Kanyumbaka Village in the area of Traditional Authority Sawali in Balaka District.
By Alufeyo Liyaya.
