Chinsali man found with defilement case to answer

The Chinsali magistrate court has found a 27-year- old man of Fonkofonko village in Chinsali with a case to answer on charges of defilement.

Magistrate Shaderick Chanda yesterday found Joel Mutale with a case to answer on one count of defiling a minor aged below the 16 years contrary to section 138 of chapter 87 of the laws of Zambia.

Particulars of the offence are that Mutale on 24^th September, 2014 allegedly defiled a named juvenile girl aged 15 of the same village around 23:00 hours.

Mutale has denied the charge.

So far five witnesses have testified against Mutale.

One of the witnesses Hildah Kabwe, who is the mother to the victim, told the court that Mutale fled the scene of crime and left his pair of sandals and a T-shirt after he was found in the act.

Ms. Kabwe further told the court that Mutale was never seen in the village from that time until on 29^th September this year.

She told the court that Mutale was spotted at Chinsali District Hospital and she immediately alerted the police who apprehended him.

Magistrate Chanda has since set November 19 as date on which Mutale is
expected to open his defence.

Mutale, who has been remanded in custody, has indicated to the court that he will give a sworn statement and that he will not call any witness.