Health worker gets 35-years imprisonment for defilement

By Christopher Miti

The Chipata High Court has sentenced a 36-year-old community health assistant at Makopa clinic in Nyimba District to 35 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a patient.

MABVUTO PHIRI sedated a 14-year-old girl who went to the clinic for an injection before defiling her.

Mr. PHIRI committed the offence in December 2022 and was referred to the High Court for sentencing by the Nyimba subordinate court.

Lusaka Judge MWAPE BOWA, who is sitting in Chipata, says the administration of a drug that sedated the victim before defiling her was an aggravating factor.

Judge BOWA says people attend medical centres to receive treatment and not to be harassed and abused.

He says Mr. PHIRI betrayed the trust of the people.

Judge BOWA says the sentence is with effect from the date of arrest.

And Judge BOWA sentenced PATRICK PHIRI of Vubwi District to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour for defiling a 15-year-old girl.

Mr. PHIRI, 22, forced himself on the victim on January 20, 2021 when she was collecting firewood.

Judge BOWA says it is high time a review of the law regarding such cases is undertaken to question whether the law as it stands is effective.

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