90-year-old grandfather sentenced to 21 years imprisonment for defiling his two granddaughters

A Malawian court has sentenced Lester Danken, a 90-year-old grandfather to 21 years imprisonment with hard labour on each count for having unlawful carnal knowledge of his two granddaughters aged 10 and 11, at Kufunda Village, Traditional Authority Kachere in Dedza.

Dedza Police Deputy Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Cassim Manda, who confirmed the development on Friday, said during trial, Danken admitted to raping the children but was quick to say he committed the offence because the victims seduced him.

State Prosecutor, Sub Inspector Mercy Scott, explained in court that Danken in September 2021 sexually forced himself on the first victim.

The victim’s mother who stays close to Danken’s house was surprised to see her daughter coming out of her grandfather’s house with her underwear in her hand.

The state prosecutor further told the court that when the victim was quizzed, she revealed that Danken had been raping her since last year and he was giving her K100 with promise that the sexual abuse will boost her breasts.

The prosecutor further told the court that Danken voluntarily told Police of the second victim. Both victims were issued with medical report forms for examination at the hospital which later certified that they were defiled.

Prosecutor Scott asked the court to give the convict a deterrent sentence to act as a warning to other would be offenders.

In his sentence, Senior Resident Magistrate Clemence Chamwenda agreed with the state and observed that the convict was supposed to protect the victims being a grandparent, and that the victims are traumatised, hence a custodial sentence without looking at the age factor could fit him.

Magistrate Chamwenda went on to slap the grandfather with 21 years imprisonment without hard labour on each count. Both sentences to run concurrently.