16yrs-old Juvenile Sentenced 5yrs for Sexual Penetration

April 13, 2021

By: Francis F.M.Harding

The Sexual Penetration Court in  Freetown presided over by Justice Charles Stevens in the Modern Sexual Penetration Court has on the 12^thApril, 2021 sentenced one a juvenile  to 5yrs jail term for sexually penetrating a five 5 years old girl.

Before passing down sentence, the judge read that  the accused person is indicted on one count of sexual penetration contrary to section 19 of the Sexual Offenses Act No. 12 0f 2012 of the Laws of Sierra Leone. It is alleged by the state that the accused person between the 1^st February, and 29^th February, 2020 in Freetown engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a girl who is a child. The accused person pleaded not guilty to the offence.

The prosecution filed in an application for trial by judge alone. The prosecution led five (5) witnesses. According to the victim testimony in court, she was sexually abused by the accused person, by forcing her to have sex with her.

The second prosecution witness who is the Police Detective testified that he interviewed the accused person and also produced to the court the voluntary caution statement. The judge said the Defense Witness statement does not bear any corroboration and lacks consistency.

Defense Lawyer Taylor Young, representing the offender pleaded with that he is a first time offender, and he is young man with bright future.  He pleaded with the Judge to temper justice with mercy. He added that the young offender has learnt from his mistakes and will right his wrongs.

He continued that the accused person came from Kono to Freetown with the intention to learn lucrative skills so he can make a better life. The Defense Lawyer said the Convention on the Rights of the Child which is a template for children and their fundamental growth in Sierra Leone, places immense consideration on fundamental growth and education for children, and said the custodian sentence might hinder his growth. He pleaded with the discretion of the court.

However, the Judge read the sentence; the accused person was sentence to five years at the Approve school. The State Prosecutor was J.B.Kamara and P.Sesay while Taylor Young represented the accused person.