Prophet Christopher Phiri from the Supernatural Embassy Ministry has been brought before a court in Mangochi, Malawi, following his recent arrest on charges of sexually abusing his 16-year-old daughter.
The arrest took place last week in the district, with Phiri facing defilement charges. Incriminating videos and images related to the alleged sexual abuse surfaced on social media. On Friday, December 8, 2023, Phiri appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution presented four witnesses in the case, overseen by senior resident magistrate Muhammad Maxwell Chande. The witnesses included the victim, her mother, a medical officer, and a police officer. Brenda Nkhwale, the lawyer representing the Centre for Human Rights Education Advice Assistance (CHREAA), informed the court that prosecutors would be reviewing the charges against Phiri.
The case is scheduled to resume on December 19, at which time the court is expected to rule on Phiri’s bail application.
Earlier reports from the police indicated that the victim had disclosed the sexual abuse and mentioned threats from her father to cease paying her school fees if she spoke out. Additionally, explicit pictures and videos of the two were reportedly found on the suspect’s phone.
Mangochi Police spokesperson Amina Tepani Daudi confirmed that the victim had been issued a referral letter to Koche Health Centre, where it was determined that she had been subjected to carnal knowledge.
