A man in Siavonga has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour for defilement and exposing the victim to HIV.
This is in a matter in which Nelson Moonga is charged with one count of defilement contrary to the Laws of Zambia.
State Counsel Cassandra Soko said in litigation that the convict had exposed the child to contraction of HIV.
In mitigation, a legal counsel from the Legal Aid Clinic said her client did not deliberately expose the girl to HIV but that he was unaware of his status at the time the offence was committed.
She said her client is remorseful and prayed that the court would exercise leniency.
“On the medical record, it is indicated that he is HIV -positive and thankfully the victim was not infected. At the time of committing the offence, he did not know that he was HIV-positive,” she said.
She said her client was only tested after the offence was committed.
In sentencing Moonga, Judge Anne Phiri bemoaned the increase in the number of defilement cases in the country.
Justice Phiri said it is important that stiff punishments are meted out to offenders to deter others from committing similar crimes.
She said defilement is criminal and that the convict unnecessarily exposed a child to HIV.
“I have considered the mitigation that you are a first offender but these cases have increased and it is important to mete out stiff punishments. I therefore sentence you to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour,” Justice Phiri said.
Particulars of the offence were that months ago Chirundu, Moonga had carnal knowledge of a girl below the age of 16.
Moonga was found guilty of the offence by the magistrate’s court and was committed to the High Court for sentencing in accordance with Section 217 of the Criminal Procedure Code Chapter 88 of the Laws of Zambia.