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Malawi gay couple jailed 14 years

  1. Posted on Thursday 20 May 2010 - 12:34
    Sam Banda Junior
    Image of Sam Banda Junior
    The Malawi gay couple of Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza who were convicted have been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour at the Blantyre magistrate Court on Thursday.

    Magistrate Nyakwawa Usiwausiwa said he decided to give them a harsh sentence inorder to scare away others.

    Usiwausiwa said homosexuality acts were unMalawian hence giving them a 14 year sentence.

    The gay issue has attracted alot of debate in the Southern African country particularly from donors who feel the punishment is an infringement on human rights.

    Tiwonge and Steven first appeared to the public last year after they held wedding before they were arrested.

    The two were arrested in December and have been denied bail before the sentence Thursday.

    " I will give you a scaring sentence so that the public be protected from people like you, so that we are not tempted to engage in this horrendous act," said the magistrate in the Commercial City before announcing the sentence.

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