By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Justice Momoh Jah Stevens presiding at the Sexual Offense Model Court in Freetown has on the 20th May, 2022 sentenced thirty-three years old, Alhaji Fofana security personnel to 15 years imprisonment for sexually penetrating an 8 years old girl.
The convict was before the court on one count of sexual penetration of a child contrary to section 19 of the sexual act No.12 of 2012 as repeal and replace.
State counsel, Janneh B. Sesay alleged that convict on a date unknown between the 1st January 2022 and 5th March 2022 in Freetown, the accused engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a girl under the age of 18 to wit 8 years.
Before the accused was convicted and sentenced, state counsel, Janneh B. Sesay led her first prosecution witness, who is the victim.
The victim said she knew the accused as their security and recalled on the date in question.
She said whenever she went down stairs for play, the accused use to take her in unknown room inside the house and sexual intercourse with her.
She said one day, the accused take her inside the said room, removed her pant and use his penis into her Virginia, place his mouth into her mouth and started having sex with her.
The victim narrated that the accused had sexual intercourse with her several on an unknown dates, adding that her parents knew about the matter when her aunty (Juliana) who use to wash her pants saw strange liquid on her pants and she later informed the matter to her mother.
Going further the victim said her mother called her and asked her about the strange liquid and she later told her that it was the accused who had sex with her, she added that her mother later reported the matter the police where they were issued with police medical form for treatment at the Aberdeen women centre and she later made statement at Adonki police station.
The mother of the victim, Loren Bassita King, the aunty of the victim, Juliana Lansana and the police investigator were also testified in respect of the same matter.
After their testimonies, the state counsel close their case and the accused told the court that he relied on his statement made to the police.
Giving his judgment, Justice Stevens said the accused was indicted on one count of sexual penetration and when the charge was put to him, he denied the allegation levied against him.
He said at the commencement of the matter, the prosecutor applied for the matter to be tried by judge alone which was granted.
Justice Stevens said the prosecutor called four witnesses to testified against the accused and during the victim’s testimony, she told the court that the accused penetrated her and there was sufficient to show that indeed the accused penetrated the victim, so he found him guilty for the offense of sexual penetration.
However, the convict pleads with the judge to temper him justice with mercy, Justice Stevens slammed maximum of 15 years imprisonment.
