By Daily Revelation Correspondent
Kapiri Magistrate, Brenda Chiganda has refered a 16-year-old boy to Chainama Hospital for mental examination.
This is in a case where a named juvenile of Turn-off area in Kapiri Mposhi is appearing in court for allegedly defiling an 11-year-old girl.
According to the statement of offence, the juvenile is believed to have had unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under the age of 16 years contrary to section 138 (1) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 as read with Act No. 15 of 2005 and Amendment Act No. 2 of 2011 of the Laws of Zambia.
But when the matter came up for plea, Magistrate Chiganda forwarded the juvenile to a mental asylum facility for medical examination in accordance with section 17 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, Chapter 88 of the Laws of Zambia.
This is after the juvenile gave contradicting answers on his particulars and thereafter remained mute to satisfactorily plead to the charge.
Magistrate Chiganda further noted that the accused’s responses in court appeared not to be coming from a mentally stable person.
Magistrate Chiganda adjourned the matter to a later date pending a report on the accused mental status.
She granted a K 2, 000 bail in the accused’s own recognizance.
