November 17, 2021
By: Hafsatu Bangura
A 17-yrs-old juvenile yesterday was discharged by Justice Momoh Jah-Steven for alleging sexual penetration of a child below the age of eighteen year to wit 14 years.
The 17-year-old juvenile was in the court for one count charge of sexually penetrating a 14- year- old pupil.
The accused was standing trial in the High Court presided by Justice Momoh Jah Stevens, on one count charge of sexual penetration of a child contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012, as repealed and replaced by Section 4 of the Sexual Offenses (Amendment) Act 2019 Act No. of 2019.
The state prosecutor had alleged that the convict, on 31, December 2019, in Freetown, Western Area District, sexually penetrated the victim who was below the age of 18th years, to wit 14 years.
When the charges were put to the accused by the court’s registrar, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Taylor Younge Esq, from the Legal Aid Board, applied to the court to discharge the accused because there was no single evidence level against the accused person since the matter was a committee to the High Court.
Earlier, defence counsel, Younge, applied that the accused be put on bail, but the judge said he should have applied for the matter to be discharged.
The lawyer told the court that the matter has taken too long and the state has not produced any witness in the matter.
Justice Momoh Jah Stevens said because the state has failed to proceed with the matter, “I, therefore, discharge the matter for wants of prosecution” said Justice Jah-Steven.