By CHILA NAMAIKO –

A DEPUTY head teacher at Konkola Lower Primary School in Mazabuka District has been arrested for allegedly defiling a 14-year-old Grade Seven pupil at his school.

Oliver Cheelo, who is about 40 years old, allegedly defiled the girl on four occasions in one of the classrooms at the school.

Southern Province deputy Police Commissioner Milner Muyambango confirmed the incident in an interview in Choma yesterday.

Mr Muyambango said the incident was concealed after Cheelo allegedly paid K2,000 to the victim’s parents not to report the matter to the police.

He said Cheelo, of Chief Hanjalika’s area, had repeatedly defiled the girl between April and August 7 this year.

The deputy police chief said after thoroughly investigating the matter, police officers from the Victim Support Unit (VSU) managed to trace the girl at the same school.

Mr Muyambango said that Cheelo was arrested on Wednesday and is expected to appear in the Mazabuka Magistrate Court soon.

“Following the report regarding a concealed case of defilement that occurred at Konkola Primary School in Chief Hanjalika’s area in Mazabuka, our officers from VSU followed up this report and traced the victim at the school,” Mr Muyambango said.

He said investigations had revealed that Cheelo, who is now in police custody, sexually abused the girl on four occasions in one of the classrooms.

Mr Muyambango said the girl was issued with a medical report and was taken to the hospital for further medical tests.

Mazabuka District Education board secretary Ephe Ngolwe said it would be ‘disgusting’ if the allegations the girl had raised of being defiled were true.

Ms Ngolwe also said it would be disappointing for any teacher in the country to be found abusing children at the expense of inculcating good morals in them.