July 8, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
Defense witnesses Mohamed Bangura third defense witness (DW3), fourth defense witness (DW4) Ibrahim Fofanah, fifth defense witness (DW5) Sulay Bangura have all testified before Justice Samuel O Taylor at the Modern Sexual Penetration Court in Freetown on 5th July, 2021 in an alleged sexual penetration of a fifteen years girl.
I was alleged that on the 14th February, 2020, on Valentine`s Day, in Kono District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone, Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray sexually penetrated a 15 year old girl, which is prohibited by the Laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the police charge sheets, both accused persons (Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray and Marion Kamal Arouni) are facing seven counts of related criminal charges, ranging from conspiracy, sexual penetration, meeting a child for sexual purposes, to aiding and abetting contrary to the Sexual Amendment Act of 2019.
When the third defense witness was testifying he said he stayed at No.25 Mansaray drive Makeni and he is a contractor for the first accused person. Defense witness said he don’t know the second accused person and the victim. Defense witness said he was in Makeni working for the first accused person in Makeni when the first accused person came to them at the site of the first accused person before the St. Valentine day on the 14th February, 2020.
Defense witness said when the workers met with the first accused person he told them he will celebrate the Valentine with them in Makeni.
Defense witness said Madam Isha Mansaray (DW1) was with them till Valentine`s day (14th February, 2020). Defense witness said Madam Isha left for Kono and later himself, the first accused person, Johnny the electrician, Momoneh and the carpenter left for Kono to take estimates. Defense witness said they took days in Kono and later they returned to Makeni to continue their work.
Under cross examination, the State Prosecutor Lawyer Umu Sumaray asked defense witness if they organized a party and enjoyed on Valentine day.
Defense witness said yes. State Prosecutor asked defense witness if he knows why the first accused person was brought to the court. Defense witness said yes.
State Prosecutor asked him what the offence that the first accused committed is.
Defense witness said he got the information that the first accused person sexually penetrated a fifteen years girl.
State Prosecutor asked when you got the information. Defense witness said a year ago.
When the fourth defense witness was testifying he said he is a caretaker for the first accused person at his site in Makeni.
Defense witness said he knew the first accused person as a politician. Defense witness said he don’t know the second accused person and the victim.
Defense witness said he was in Makeni and the contractors were doing construction work on the site of the first accused person on the 14th February, 2020.
Defense witness said on the 14th February, 2021 he didn’t see the first accused person and he asked Madam Isha (DW1) for the first accused person and she told him that he is unwell. Defense witness said the first accused person told them he will organize a party for all the workers. He said later the first accused person left for Kono with some workers to take estimate and they took some days in Kono. He said they returned from Kono after few days to Makeni to continue with the construction work.
When the fifth defense witness (Sulay Bangura) was testifying he said he is a masonry for the first accused person in Makeni.
Defense witness said he don’t know the second accused person and the victim.
He said he was working on the swimming pool when he asked Madam Isha about the first accused person. He said she told him that the first accused person is unwell.
The matter has been adjourned to the 8th July, 2021.