Court defies Judiciary decree, frees Pastor Ndipo on bail in sex crime
The Ntcheu First Grade Court has defied the odds and granted bail to a defilement suspect, 50-year-old pastor, Philip Palibe Ndipo who is accused of allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old epileptic girl.
Due to the increase of defilement cases and related sexual offences on miners, the judiciary issued a decree of not granting bail to suspects, instead direct such suspects on remand until their cases are concluded.
This was done to protect the interest of girl-child who has been subjected to different forms of sexual assault that impact negatively on their lives.
However, the first grade magistrate in Ntcheu district on Monday granted bail to pastor Ndipo of New Covenant Assemblies of God who allegedly defiled the standard-three pupil at Kalindira village last week.
The suspect pleaded not guilty to the charge of defilement under Section 138 of the Penal Code. The charge attracts a custodial sentence of not less than seven years.
The court granted him bail and was asked to produce two sureties of K75,000.00 each- of which he managed to.
The case will resume on October 12, 2017 for hearing. The state is expected to parade witnesses.
According to police, the suspect on Wednesday last week (27th September) defiled the victim while her mother was away to draw water.
Medical examination by Kandewu Health Centre confirmed that the girl was indeed defiled. She had bruises on her private parts.
The victim was also treated for other sexual transmitted diseases.
Pastor Ndipo hails from Kalindira village, Traditional Authority Njolomole, in the district.
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