Police in Mzimba have arrested a 44-year-old man who found her first born son's wife too beautiful to resist and raped her in a manner that should have remained concealed if it were not for the community police.

Mzimba police spokesperson Gift Nyirongo said the arrest of Langsman Mwale follows an incident which happened on April 27 and was being handled as a family issue.

"It is said that around 2pm on the date stated the suspect called the victim to his house while his wife was away performing other chores. The victim, 18, was surprised when she entered that her father-in-law closed the door behind her," said Nyirongo.

"The suspect grabbed her and dragged her into his matrimonial bedroom. The victim tried to shout for help but could not get any attention, apparently, as the suspect closed her mouth with a piece of cloth. He raped her."

Nyirongo said the victim narrated the ordeal to her husband, 20, but the matter was handled at family level as a family issue regardless of it being a criminal issue and was only reported to police by members of the community policing from the village on Wednesday.

He said the suspect was arrested the same day and, apparently, admitted to committing the offence during interrogation.

Nyirongo said the suspect has since been charged with rape, saying he has been charged using Section 132 of the Penal Code adding that the offence attracts a maximum of life imprisonment.

"As police, we are calling on village headmen and other community leaders not to handle criminal cases. They are supposed to report those cases to police as soon as possible so that some issues which may be relevant as evidence in the court of law are not subdued," added Nyirongo.

"We are further advising the general public that they are not supposed to take a bath when they have been raped or defiled or making delays to report to the police. This compromises medical results which are very essential for evidence in the court of law on matters of sexual offences.

Mwale hails  from Damaseko Mwale Village in the area of Traditional Authority Kampingo Sibande in the district.