Malawi clinician suspected of raping mental patient
Police in the northern Malawi city of Mzuzu have arrested a clinical officer at Mzuzu Central Hospital for allegedly defiling a mental patient.
Mzuzu Police spokesperson Maurice Chapola identified the suspect as Hope Chipwatali.
Claimed Chapola: “The victim, who is a 35-year-old from Mwanyanja Village, T/A Nthalire in Chitipa, was admitted to the referral hospital for mental illness on January 20 this year.
“Later on, the duty nurse, Jean Vinkhumbo, went with the victim to the treatment room where she left her with the suspect and went out of the room for other commitments. Chipwatali then took advantage of the victim’s mental illness and went ahead to have carnal knowledge of her.”
Chapola alleged the nurse caught the clinician red-handed and reported the matter to authorities.
Chipwatali has since been charged with defilement of an imbecile contrary to Section 139 of the Penal Code.
