Man arrested for defiling his 9 year step daughter

Northern Province Police Commissioner Mary Chikwanda says the police in Luwingu have apprehended a 39 year old man of Fikokonta village in chief Tungati area for allegedly defiling a 9 year old step daughter.

Ms Chikwanda who disclosed to ZANIS in Luwingu today said that Peter Kalyati Katongo 39 of Fikokonta village was last week arrested for defiling his step daughter on the 13th October 2012 and went into hiding for three weeks until his arrest last week.

She said that Katongo defiled his step daughter when the juvenile visited her mother from Bulambo village in the same chiefdom on material day and warned the girl not to disclose any thing to her mother or any elderly person in the community.

Ms Chikwanda said as the girl was coming out from the step father’s bedroom while crying she met her grand mother who was waiting to know the reason why the girl was crying.

The girl narrated to her that she had been defiled by her step father who was at the time still in the bedroom.

Ms Chikwanda said the grand mother together with the girl went straight to Luwingu police station where the matter was reported and a medical report form was issued.

She said the girl was accompanied by a police officer from Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Detective, Edson Sakala who went to the district hospital where the victim was examined and confirmed that she was defiled.

When police went to Shedai’s village to apprehend the Katongo, they found that the culprit had run away into unknown location in the same district.

Ms Chikwanda however, said Katongo was apprehended after a tip off from members of the public and is currently remanded in police custody awaiting to appear before Luwingu magistrate court soon.

Meanwhile, Luwingu subordinate court has referred the long awaited judgment of another defilement case to the High court.

This is in a matter where Shedai Mwaba 40, was allegedly accused of having defiled a 4 year old girl of Chope village in chief Chipalo’s area in Luwingu district.

Magistrate Davy Simfukwe said that the delay to deliver judgment was caused by the accused person who had escaped from lawful custody on 17th June 2011 and was apprehended this year on 29th August 2012.

Particulars of the offence were that Shedai Mwaba on an unknown date but between 15th and 23rd April 2011 had unlawful canal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16.

Magistrate Simfukwe said that according to state witness, Luwingu District Medical Officer, Dr Brian Chilando who examined the young girl said Shedai inflicted the victim with sexual transmitted disease called syphilis which Mwaba was also diagnosed with.

Mr Simfukwe said the girl was examined on 23rd April 2011 while Mwaba was examined four days later and both were found with the same disease.

Magistrate Simfukwe said state called five witnesses to testify and having summarized the whole evidence in the matter found that the evidence was overwhelming, credible and reliable.

“I am quite satisfied that the prosecution has proved their case against the accused person beyond reasonable doubt” he added.

The matter was referred to the High court for sentencing.