Police in Mansa have launched a manhunt for a father who allegedly defiled his nine-year-old biological daughter at a funeral house.

According to police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo, the victim’s mother had left her in the custody of the father to attend a workshop, and only discovered the defilement ordeal after returning.

“Police in Mansa received a report of defilement in which a female victim aged nine years of Mimpolombo Village, Chief Matanda of Mansa District is alleged to have been defiled by her biological father. The report was made by the victim’s mother aged 28. This is alleged to have occurred between 10th July 2019 around 14:30 hours and 19th July 2019 around 19:00 hours,” Katongo stated.

“It was reported that the mother to the victim had gone to attend a workshop at a local hotel on 10th July 2019 at 14:30 hours leaving her two female juveniles aged nine and four years respectively in the custody of their father and when she went back home on 19th July 2019 around 19:00 hours, she found the children and her husband spending nights at a funeral house in the neighbourhood and the following morning on 20th July 2019, the children returned home but her husband never returned.”

Katongo stated that the mother to the victim reported the defilement case after the daughter disclosed what her father did to her.

“She then noticed that the victim was limping and when asked, the victim revealed that her father had been having canal knowledge of her ever since their mother left them with him. The victim sustained bruises on her private parts and had her private parts had pass,” said Katongo.

“People at the funeral house were alerted but the suspect had already escaped. a search for the suspect has been launched as he is currently on the run.”