February 19, 2021
By: Mohamed Kargbo
45-years-old driver, Frederick Davies has been sentenced to fifteen (15) years imprisonment for sexually penetrating a 15-year-old minor.
Delivering his judgement on Tuesday 17th February, 2021, at the High Court of Sierra Leone, in Freetown, Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens said, based on the strength of the evidence, the prosecution has proved his case beyond reasonable doubt. He added that the accused relied on his statement which was mainly denial.
He therefore sentenced the accused to fifteen-year imprisonment (15) for penetrating a child below the age of eighteen –years (18) contrary to section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012.
The victim in her testimony told the court that, she knew the accused to be in a relationship with her mother and that after several attempts, the accused one day forcefully penetrated and impregnated her. The evidence that the victim was pregnated was corroborated by the medical report.
While testifying, the mother of the victim, Sibatu K. Kamara, a petty trader said, “…I went to see a lady who was pregnant. When I came back and watched my daughter’s face they look alike. I asked the victim if she was pregnant but denied. I and my other daughters squeezed her stomach but it was very strong and told her that she is pregnant. She pleaded not to beat her and that she will disclose the owner of the pregnancy…”
The mother continued that she had warned the accused, Mr. Fredrick Davies to move away from her children on several occasions.
The prosecution had alleged that the accused on the 1st October 2020 in the Western Area in Laka involved in an act of sexual penetration of a child below the age of 18 contrary to law.
The matter was prosecuted by lawyer Jenneh B. Kamara.