March 24, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
The Modern Sexual Penetration Court in Freetown presided over by Honorable Justice Emmanualla Harding, on Tuesday 23rd March, sentenced one Koko Weleh to thirty years jail for sexually penetrating two girls- 9 and 10 years respectively.
The convicted Koko Weleh was standing trial on two counts charges of Sexual Penetration of a child contrary to section 19 of the Sierra Leone Sexual Offences Act of 2012.
The judge sentenced the accused person to thirty years imprisonment on both counts. State Prosecutor, O.V.Robin Mason Jnr told the court that the accused was charged on the 20th October, 2018.
The judge in her statement to the court said the ten years old testified that on the said date, the accused sent her to buy him cigarette and when she returned she went into his room to deliver the cigarette. It was then the accused grabbed and penetrated her while their parents were away.
Relating another instance, the Judge also stated that the nine years victim testified that on the date of the incident she went to use the bathroom that was where the accused went to sexually penetrate her.
Hon. Justice Harding said the victim further told the court that her mother noticed her when she went to use the bathroom, but upon following her, the accused is said to have blocked the bathroom door and prevented her from entering.
It was testified that the mother later cried out for help and the accused was arrested by the community people.
“The action of the convict makes women and girls no longer safe in their communities. He exposes children to sex and destroy their future,” the Judge said.
The accused has been convicted on both charges and sentenced him to 15 years in prison for each count charge committed against the two minors and it is to run concurrently.