By: Audrey Raymonda John
Musa Turay, a 38-year-old former teacher at St. Joseph Secondary School, has been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment by Justice Alhaji Momoh-Jah Stevens for sexually assaulting two underage students.
Turay was convicted on multiple counts of sexual penetration and abuse involving two girls, aged 12 and 13. The charges were based on two separate case files containing the same offenses.
He was found guilty of Sexual Penetration of a Child, contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012 (as amended by Section 4 (iii) of the 2019 Amendment Act).
Sexual Abuse by a Person in a Position of Trust, contrary to Section 21 (1) (a) of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012.
According to the particulars of the offense, between February 1 and March 14, 2024, in Freetown, Turay engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a child. A second count stated that on the same dates, he abused his position of trust to commit the act.
The charges were read and explained to the accused, who pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The prosecutor, Musa Pious Sesay Jr. Esq., presented compelling evidence against Turay. In the first case, three witnesses testified, and in the second, five witnesses gave damning testimonies that ultimately influenced the court’s decision to convict.
After considering all the evidence, Justice Stevens convicted Turay and imposed a sentence of 30 years imprisonment. The judge ruled that the sentence would run concurrently for both cases. Taking into account the time Turay had already spent in detention awaiting trial, the court ordered that he will effectively serve 15 years.
The accused was represented by defense lawyer Claudius Campbell Esq.