PETER SICHALI writes
A 40-YEAR old Isoka businessman who has admitted having sex with a 15 year grade nine pupil claims he did not know she was a minor.
The man also caused consternation in court when he asked other men in the room if the girl looked 15.
Appearing before Isoka Magistrate Musa Chanda, was Kapina Siame of Mwembe village in Senior Chief Kafwimbi’s area who has been charged with defilement.
Siame admitted having sex with the minor, a pupil at Muchinga Secondary School but said he did not know that she was under age.
‘‘Your honour, I had sex with the girl because I thought she was 19 years and she never told me she was below the age of 16 years.
“Your honour every man in this room will agree with me that the girl in question does not look like a minor,” Siame said.
The accused however pleaded not guilty to the charge and Magistrate Chanda set February 14, 2019 as trial date.
Meanwhile, state prosecutors applied that the victim be subjected to HIV testing which Magistrate Chanda granted and ordered that results should be ready by February 14.
Mr Chanda granted bail to Siame on condition that he produced two working sureties in the sum of K8, 000.
The Magistrate also warned Siame against interfering with State witnesses or any of proxies.
He said any reports of the interfering with state witnesses would attract a fine of K12, 000 on Siame and K16, 000 for the sureties and revocation of the bail.
In the same court a 43 year small scale farmer of Mwaiseni village in Chief Kafwimbi’s area appeared for allegedly having canal knowledge of a girl below the age of 16.
Joseph Simukoko pleaded not guilty to having sex with a minor.
The matter comes up on February 4 for trial.
