In a groundbreaking ruling, a Malawi court has ordered 26-year-old Chinese national, Lu Ke, to leave the country within seven days after being found guilty of racial discrimination against children.
The court’s decision came in response to Lu Ke’s exploitation of Malawian children through the sale of disturbing videos.
Lu Ke was initially charged with serious offenses, including child trafficking, illegal use of the internet, and procuring children for entertainment. However, he denied these charges, asserting that the videos served to promote Chinese culture within the local community.
As the case unfolded, prosecutors amended some charges, leading Lu Ke to plead guilty and compensate his victims with 16 million kwatcha (approximately $16,000). The compensation was designated for general community benefits, potentially including the construction of a well.
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The case garnered international attention and outrage following an investigation by the British Broadcasting Corporation, which revealed the appalling content of the videos. Young Malawian villagers were coerced into making racist remarks about themselves in Mandarin, with some victims as young as 9 years old.
Despite Lu Ke’s conviction and compensation, child rights campaigners in Malawi argue that the punishment does not adequately reflect the severity of his crimes.
They are demanding further transparency in the distribution of the compensation and calling for more stringent measures to prevent such exploitation from happening in the future.
As Lu Ke prepares to leave the country, questions about justice and accountability linger, and advocates emphasize the need for stronger deterrents against child exploitation. The convicted Chinese national’s lawyer has yet to provide any public comments on the matter.
