April 23, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
Police Witness (PW3) Detective 1168 W.J. Kamara who is attached to the Family Support Unit (FSU) at the Eastern Police Station in Freetown has testified before Justice Manuella Harding at the Modern Sexual Penetration Court in Freetown on 22nd April, 2021. The witness said she recognized the accused person.
The witness also said she knew the victim in this case since the matter was reported at the Family Support Unit (FSU) at the Eastern Police Station. She said on the 11th January, 2020 while she was on duty at the Family Support Unit (FSU) at the Eastern Police Station, a case of sexual penetration of the victim who was accompanied by her mother Fatmata Mansaray was handed over to her.
She said after receiving the report, the victim was given a police medical request form for medical examination. The witness said she accompanied the victim and her mother to the Rainbow Centre at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCHNM).
The witness said on that very day, she obtained statement from the victim and referrer. She continued to say they made their statement in Krio and she recorded them in English at the end of the statement she read and explained to them which she affixed her right finger print to be true and correct.
She said on the 13th January, 2020 her together with Sargent 12249 S.Conteh obtained a voluntarily statement from the accused person in Krio, recorded it in English at the end of the statement she read and explained to him, which he admitted to be true and correct by affixing his right finger print to be true.
She said an endorsed medical report form was returned to the station. The witness said she and Sergent 12249 S.Conteh, together with the victim and victim mother with the accused person visited the scene at the Basharia Mosque where the victim normally take Arabic class at East Brook Street Freetown and by the description of the scene of the crime by the victim it was true and correct. The witness concluded that at the end of the investigation the file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)
It would recall that on the 11th January, 2020 Umaru Sillah Kamara sexual penetration a 9 years girl and the matter was reported at Eastern Police Station.
Under cross examination, Defense Lawyer R.S.Bangura asked the witness whether she has any idea if the accused person has been charged to court. Witness said she was told that the Director of Public Prosecution office tha charged the matter to court. .
The Defense Counsel continued to ask if she only investigate and do not charge the matter to court. The witness said due to the new amended act of the sexual offences act of 2019, it is the Director of Public Prosecution that decides on a minor rape matter.
The Defense Counsel asked if the accused person denied the allegation. The witness said she denied at first but during the question administered the accused person admitted that he committed the offense.
Defensed asked if the accused person told her that the victim went to the mosque where he was cleaning and the victim begged the accused person three thousand Leone (Le 3,000,00) for her torn cloth to be sewn by a tailor. Defense counsel asked the witness that the accused person told you he gave the money to the little girl. The witness said she cannot recall. Defense counsel said during the voluntarily caution statement the accused person told her that he chased the victim to return home as there were no Arabic lesson today. Witness said she cannot recall.
Defense Counsel asked the witness if she investigated the piece of evidence given by the victim. The witness said she investigated the piece of evidence given by the victim. Defense Counsel asked if she investigated the cookery shop where the accused person was eating when children within the area were shouting that “that the Arabic Karamokoh has raped the victim”.
Witness said she investigated the shop. Defense counsel asked the witness if the accused person revealed to her that the victim is causing noise in class and her name always appears on the list. The witness said the Quran came with a rod.
I.A. Kamara represented the State while R.S.Bangura represented the accused person. Matter has been adjourned to the 6th April, 2021.