By: Problyn John Alpha
An inmate at the mattru Jong Correctional facility is reported to have allegedly raped a seventy five year old woman at Kortumahun Village, Bonthe District. The 75 years old survivor according to report is a physically challenged woman within the community.
The survivor told this medium that she was out on her old farm harvesting cassava for her survival when the inmate attacked and raped her, noting during the process he threatened to kill her if she explains the incident to the public. Alusine George is one of the youths that helped to apprehend the alleged rapist. He said that he was on his farm harvesting cassava when he overheard the old woman crying after been allegedly raped by the inmate in question; adding that he and other youths around ran after the alleged rapist and arrested him whilst entering the aforementioned correctional facility.
The incident according to report has been described by the residents of Mattru Jong as conspiracy between the inmate and the aforesaid Correctional facility staff and it has raised serious concerns in the entire Bonthe District and beyond considering the age of the woman coupled with her disability status.
According to the public relations officer for Civil Society Coalition in Bonthe District Francis Sandy foremost condemned the attitude of the inmate and further expressed dismay over what he called the unprofessional and reckless attitude of the said Correctional facility staff which has exposed the clandestine activities that have been going on at the aforementioned facility. He said what is more disgraceful is that the staff at the facility in question are yet to get proper clarification as to how the inmate escaped from the facility.
Whereas, some women group lamented that the incident is disrespectful, painful and disgraceful for a criminal to have raped an elderly member of their society. They said the correctional staff until now cannot supply the public detail information as to how the inmate escaped from the facility in question and therefore implored the government of Sierra Leone through the Judiciary to dispense justice to prevent the reoccurrence of such crime in the District.
The Chief Superintendent of police Augustine Kabia is the local Unit Commander of Mattru Jon, Bonthe District maintained that immediately the matter was reported at his police station they followed the normal routine by issuing the survivor a medical paper and accompanied her to the hospital for treatment and to ascertain the crime reported of.
He intimated our correspondent that police were investigating the matter with all seriousness and professionalism to ensure that justice is done in the matter. Meanwhile, efforts by our correspondent to get the side of the correctional facility in question partially proved futile as the deputy in charge of the facility didn’t comment because of what he referred to as administrative protocols as his boss was not available.
More on this as it unfolds…
