In her testimony, the victim aged 12 revealed that in September last year, she was taken to a room at a beer drinking joint in Phalombe district where she was defiled.

The victim said she spent the night with the accused on pretext that he would give her K500 in the morning.

The crime was exposed when a bar attendant caught the accused in the act, leading to the involvement of the victim's uncle, who reported the matter to the police.

First Grade Magistrate Leonard Fletcher Mtosa stated that the state had convincingly proven the case, found the accused guilty.

In his submission, State Prosecutor Dingiswayo Mbepula pleaded with the court to hand the accused with a stiffer punishment to deter other would be offenders.

Considering the severity of the offense, Mtosa agreed with the state in his sentence emphasizing the need for a tough sentence to discourage potential offenders.

"The community should be aware that the accused person has been punished and deserves a stricter sentence," said Mtosa.

Consequently, the accused was handed a nine-year prison sentence with hard labour.

The case was heard in Chitekesa through a mobile court session, facilitated with support from World Vision Malawi (WVM).