The Principal Resident Magistrate Court in Lilongwe has sentenced 39-year old Patisoni Kapito to 21 years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl with the aid of his wife.
State Prosecutor Sub Inspector Florence Mlanje, on Wednesday, told the court that Kapito committed the crime during the night of July 27 2022 at Dawasi Village Traditional Authority Chiseka.
The victim was invited into the convict’s house by the convict’s wife for a chat.
Then the convict’s wife prepared supper which they had taken together until the victim decided to take leave, a thing which didn’t amuse the convict’s wife.
Surprisingly, the convict’s wife grabbed a stick and hit the victim twice in the head.
Then the husband (the convict) came and, together with his wife, dragged the victim into their bedroom and immediately undressed her.
The wife held the victim’s legs apart, facilitating her husband’s easy access to rape the girl.
Then, the convict’s wife left the husband and the victim and went outside to the victim’s mother where she reported the issue.
Then she escaped, leaving her husband behind and apprehended by community members, who later handed him over to Mitundu Police Unit.
The victim was taken to Mitundu Health Centre where she tested positive to syphilis.
During his trial, Kapito pleaded not guilty to rape, prompting the state to parade four witnesses.
State prosecutor Sub Inspector Florence Mlanje asked the court to impose a maximum penalty, saying the victim had passed through a lot of hell.
Mlanje further said the couple’s action had clearly left many unanswered questions, considering the bizarre circumstances around it.
But in his mitigation, Kapito asked the court to set him free, as it did with former president Bakili Muluzi and former Minister Uladi Mussa.
He further said he wanted to rebuild his toilet and his old mother’s house.
Bur in his determination, Principal Resident Magistrate Rodrick Michongwe said the mitigation factors were wild and baseless, arguing Kapito’s and the said gentlemen’s cases were different altogether.
He went on to condemn Kapito and his wife as a cruel family that subjected the victim to very inhumane acts, perpetrated under strange circumstances.
Michongwe then ordered the police to arrest Kapito’s wife before handing Kapito himself a 21 year jail term for him to reform and rehabilitate while behind bars.
Reported by Tess Adams.