Man gets 42 years for rape, human trafficking

Mangochi Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a 28-year-old man to 42 years imprisonment for trafficking in persons and raping two women.

State prosecutors Amos Mwase and Skeva Munyapa told the court that on July 3 this year the man went to Traditional Authority Katuli disguised as a YouthNet and Counselling (Yoneco) employee.

Mwase said the man presented himself to group village head Mpita as a Yoneco representative assigned to enrol young mothers who dropped out of school to access capital for businesses.

He said: “After mobilising the young mothers, he picked two women and lied that he was taking them for training in Salima.

“But he took them to a lodge where he raped them.”

After going into hiding for three weeks, the man returned to the area with the same trick, but community members recognised him and arrested him.

In court, he pleaded not guilty to the two charges, but the State paraded four witnesses to prove its case.

In mitigation, the man prayed for leniency, saying he is re-sitting his Malawi School Certificate of Education examination this year.

But senior resident magistrate Rodrick Michongwe handed him 21 years for the count of trafficking in persons and 21 years for the first count of rape and 21 years for another count of rape.

He said the sentences for  rape should run concurrently but the sentence for trafficking in persons should run consecutively.

Recently, rape and defilement cases have risen in the country.