49yrs Old man Charged with Offense of Sexual Penetration

March 3, 2021

By: Francis F.M.Harding

49 yrs old Mohamed Turay was arraigned before Justice Cosmotina Jarrett of the Sexual Offenses Modern court in Freetown on the 2^nd March, 2021. Before the proceedings could commence, Defense Lawyer Augustine Sheku made an application for the matter to be tried by Judge alone instead of by Judge and Jurors.

He made this application pursuant to section 1 of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965 as repealed and replaced by section 3 of the Criminal Procedure Act amended ActNo.11 of 1981 and was also supported by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

A Police witness, Inspector Turay Z.N attached at the Family Support unit Hastings Police Station, said she recognized the accused person at the time the file was assigned to her for investigation.

The witness said on 26^th February, 2021 she was on duty at Hastings Police Station a case of Sexual Penetration of a child was reported. The witness said she issued a police medical form to the victim, Musu Kamara for medical examination to be conducted at the Rainbow Centre.  

Prosecuting for the state Esq. Augustine Sheku asked if it was the police request form that was issued to the victim. Witness said yes and she tendered it to the court for evidence marked exhibit A 1-3.

The Witness further said sergeant 10787 Folleh F.A.S and her witness left the station to arrest the accused person at No. 36 Bennie Street Yams Farm at the Western Rural District in Freetown.  The witness said at the station Sergeant 10787 Folleh F.A.S.and her witness obtained voluntarily statement from the accused person Mohamed Turay.  

The witness watched the statement after which she tendered it to the court and was marked exhibit B 1-9.

The officer said they later visited the home of the accused and found in the accused room a book entitled Love and Marriage. The officer said this was the book the accused had given to the victim.  On 8^th March, 202 the witness and Sargent 10787 Folleh F.A.S.charged the accused person for sexual penetration of a child.

The witness was cross examined by Lawyer Taylor Young. Esq, whilst Augustine Sheku represented the State.  

Matter adjourned to 16^th March, 2021.