July 9, 2021
By Audrey John
Balu Mannah, wife of landlord has testified in a sexual penetration matter involving one Philip Mammy at the Sexual Model Court in Freetown.
The accused is on trial for allegedly sexually penetrating a minor on the 6th August, 2020.
State counsel, Masera Saiminatu Jalloh, made an application for Balu Mannah to testify as prosecution witness No. 4. She hinged it on section 188 of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965.
Balu started her testimony by affirming that she knew the accused person in the dock and that she remembered the 6th August, 2020, the alleged date of the said crime. She narrated to the court that on that very day she was in her room when wife of the accused by the name of Amie beckoned her to rush outside. She said that she together with her husband`s sister, the accused and his wife with the alleged victim sat in a room. She added that the wife of the accused then informed them that the child had told her that Mammy had sexual intercourse with her again.
Balu said that they prodded the child to explain what had happened. According to the child, the alleged victim, the accused used a knife to threaten her for her to take off her pant. Balu said that as the child had wanted to proceed with her explanation, the accused grabbed her by the mouth and threatened to kill her.
Balu said that it was her husband who wrestled with the accused to free the child.
After the altercation at the house, Balu said that she had cause to take the child to a local nurse who confirmed that the child has been tampered with. She added that she was scared to go to the police but only choose to do so after she heard from her sister that the accused has been misbehaving at home.
She said that she made statement at the police and that the police issued a warrant of arrest for the accused. However, she said that as they were on their way to the house to arrest the accused, he saw them and fled. She said that it was the councilor of the community that later requested for his arrest after a persistence of violent behavior. She added that the child was later taken into care by the children’s organization, Don Bosco.
During cross-examination by counsel for the accused, M. Karimu, Balu confirmed that the accused had been their tenant for 3 months prior to the said incident. She denied allegation that she had never been in a quarrel with accused before the said incident.
Justice Michael Mamie adjourned the matter for continuation of cross-examination of Balu Mannah on the 15th July 2021.