By: Audrey Raymonda John
An alleged victim has testified before the High Court of Sierra Leone in the ongoing trial of five individuals accused of conspiracy and causing grievous bodily harm in connection with an alleged case of forced female genital cutting (FGC).
The accused Mariama Kargbo, alias Kuttie; Ramatu Turay, alias Waka Pa Dem; Mabinty Bangura, alias Sampa; Adama Kamara, also known as Nanday Porto or Nandewa; and Abubakarr Fadika, alias DJ Bakarr appeared before Justice Tonia Barnett to answer four counts of conspiracy and causing grievous bodily harm, contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861.
According to the indictment, on 7 May 2026 at the Quarry Moyeba Community in Freetown, the accused allegedly conspired to forcibly remove the clitorises of Posseh Sesay and Fatmata Bangura, thereby causing them grievous bodily harm.
The third and fourth counts further allege that Mariama Kargbo, Ramatu Turay, Mabinty Bangura, and Adama Kamara, on the same date and at the same location, intentionally caused grievous bodily harm to Posseh Sesay and Fatmata Bangura by carrying out the alleged cutting.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no pleas were taken.
Testifying before the court, Posseh Sesay, a hairdresser, told the court that she recognised all five accused persons in the dock.
She testified that on 7 May 2026, while at home with her children, the fifth accused allegedly telephoned her and asked her to come to his residence to resolve a dispute involving the third accused. She said she informed her mother, Aminata Bangura, who accompanied her to the location.
According to Sesay, upon their arrival, the accused persons discussed allegations that she had insulted the second accused. She denied making the alleged remarks and told the court that she was pressured to admit to referring to the second accused as “Borokaa” and threatening to cut her.
The witness alleged that she was later taken into a room where she was undressed against her will, forced to lie down, and blindfolded. Before being blindfolded, she claimed she saw the fourth accused holding a blade, which was subsequently handed to another individual.
Sesay testified that she was then subjected to a painful cutting procedure involving her clitoris without her consent. She said she cried out in pain and later noticed blood on the floor before leaves and traditional medicine were applied to the wound.
She further told the court that after the alleged procedure, she asked the fourth accused about the welfare of her children because she was responsible for their care. According to her testimony, the fourth accused told her that she and her children would be taken to her house but provided no further explanation.
The witness alleged that she was later left in custody of the second and fifth accused, along with another individual. When she requested permission to return home because she was in severe pain, she said she was informed that the fourth accused had instructed them not to release her until Saturday.
Sesay further testified that she and Fatmata Bangura were later locked in a dark enclosure used to keep goats and sheep, where they were allegedly detained overnight without food or water. She claimed the fourth accused told them they were now “slaves” and would remain under their control.
She also told the court that her mother pleaded with the accused to release her, explaining that she could not afford the money allegedly being demanded. However, according to the witness, the request was refused.
Sesay testified that she and Fatmata spent the night crying and comforting each other. She said that because they had no access to toilet facilities, she was forced to urinate into a plastic container.
The witness further alleged that they were later taken back to the fourth accused, where another procedure was carried out. She claimed they were threatened that if the money demanded was not paid, they would be taken to Bandoma to join the Sowei Society.
According to Sesay, she eventually escaped after a friend found her and advised her to report the matter to the police instead of continuing the journey. She said she subsequently reported the incident to the police.
Following her evidence, Justice Tonia Barnett adjourned the matter to 20 July 2026 for the cross-examination of the witness.