The Mangochi Senior Resident Magistrate's Court sitting at Nkungulu has convicted and sentenced a 70-year-old man, Chiko Vasco, to 10-years imprisonment with hard labour for raping and impregnating 30-year-old client.
The court through state prosecutor Sub Inspector Maggie Chibulire heard that during the month of October 2021, the victim developed mental disorder after she miscarried.
Two months later, the victim was taken to the convict who is a well known traditional healer where she stayed for four months getting treatment.
State prosecutor Sub Inspector Chibulire further told the court that, in April 2022, the victim started recovering and the convict informed her parents to bring K80,000 cash as payment for his services.
However, the victim's parents negotiated to pay the amount in instalments, a thing which angered the convict who moved the victim to another location and declared her as his second wife.
On July 13, 2022 the parents sourced the whole amount and went to take their daughter only to discover that she is pregnant. After being quizzed the victim revealed that the convict had been raping her and also responsible for her pregnancy.
The matter was reported at Namalaka Police Unit where she was issued a referral letter and the results from Namalaka Health Centre confirmed that she is pregnant.
In mitigation, the convict who pleaded guilty asked for the court's leniency citing that he takes care of his family who will suffer if sent to prison. However, the state quashed his mitigation factor, saying the convict took advantage of the victim's vulnerability.
The state prosecutor further said the convict's immoral behavior could also dent the image of traditional healers hence the need for a stiff and custodial sentence.
Passing sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe concurred with the state, hence the 10-year sentence to serve as a lesson to other would be offenders.
Vasco hails from Kadango Village in Traditional Authority Namabvi in Mangochi.
Source: Angaliba Online
