By: Saidu Jalloh (Intern)
Honorable Justice Alhaji Momoh – Jah Steven has on 30 August 2023 at the main Law Court of Sierra Leone sentenced Shaka Conteh to 10 years imprisonment for sexually penetrating a minor.
On the third edition to the Access to Justice Judical week to decongest the prison and accelerate justice of the 802 cases assigned to 23 judges, Honorable Justice Momoh – Jah Steven has dispensed Justice.
Presided over by the Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Momoh – Jah Steven asked the 16- year old victim to explain what happened on Africa Child’s Day. The victim in her explanation said” I was approached by the accused under a tree at around 3: 00 pm on the 16th June 2023 after I have returned from my school Africa Child’s Day celebration,” the victim said. In her statement in court, she explained that the accused took her to his house and sexually penetrated her.
The accused was charged by the court with the offence of sexual penetration contrary to section 4 (a) (ii) if the sexual offences Amendment Act No. 8 of 2019.
The state alledge that on the 16th June 2022, the accused while in Freetown engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a child; for which he pleaded not guilty.
At the end of the trial, the prosecution led in evidence five witnesses, and upon closing their case, the accused relied on his confessional statement to the police.
Shaka Conteh confessed before the court that he had sexual intercourse with the victim after evidence has been reviewed.
“Shaka Conteh exploited the victim by taking her to his house and sexually penetrated her,” the Honorable Justice Momoh – Jah Steven said.
The Honorable Justice finally sentences Shaka Conteh to ten years in prison including the time already spent.
In speeding up the process, Justice Momoh – Jah Steven also sentenced Suliaman Jalloh to three years six months including the time already spent at remand after he pleaded guilty. Suliaman Jalloh was indicted on one count of shop Breaking and Larceny.
At the end of the court proceedings, Justin Momoh- Jah Steven also sentenced Gibrilla Bangura to time spent in remand. Gibrilla Bangura, a convict who had been in incarceration since 2019 for House breaking and Larceny.
Gibrilla was allege to have on the 9th September 2019 at Freetown in Western Sierra Leone, with intent to steal broke and entered the dwelling house of one Patrick Ansu Kai Kai and stole items including electronics worth over Twenty Million Leones Old Leones (Le 20,000,000).