By Mohamed Foday Conteh
Saidu Sesay, Alfred Bangura and Foday Sesay have appeared before Justice Sulaiman Bah at High Court No.2 in Freetown to answer to allegations of raping a businesswoman.
The three men were arraigned on the 25th October this year charged with conspiracy and rape, and who together with other persons unknown committed the crime on 19th October 2018 against the woman whose identity Politico cannot reveal.
The State Prosecutor, Alberta Kargbo led in the alleged victim as First Prosecution Witness (PW1) in the matter to testify against the three accused persons.
The witness told the court she returned home from watching a movie from one Bampia, a friend and neighbour after 12 midnight and upon entering her apartment the three accused and some other men whom she couldn’t recognise, attacked her.
She said the men forced her to the ground and covered her mouth. She claimed it was the third accused, Foday who tore her underwear and sexually penetrated her, whilst her attackers including the other two men in the dock took turns in raping her.
She said Saidu a brother of Foday, was on top of her when one Amidu Koroma, her younger brother’s friend appeared at the scene. She said he shouted thief at the men which forced them to flee from the scene.
The witness explained how she suffered some injuries and left traumatised. She said it was her younger sister who encouraged her the following morning to report the incident to the Police. She went to the Police and was issued a medical request form that she took to Rainbo Medical Centre.
She revealed the Police with the help of her younger sister later apprehended the three accused persons who were on the verge to flee.
During cross-examination by defence lawyer, Morrison Karimu, the alleged victim said she was living alone in her apartment at the time of incident and all three accused men were her neighbours. She said Bampia’s house was just 100 feet away from her apartment and it was habitual of her to visit her friend to watch movie as she had no electricity at the time. She added that although the outside of her apartment was dark, there was a lantern in her living room when she was attacked.
She stated that the men knew her daily itinerary at night and were only with boxers when they attacked her on the said night.
She agreed to the defence lawyer that there was an issue between her and the accused persons the same week the alleged raping incident occurred. She, however, denied that her allegations were merely to get back at the three men for the earlier altercation.
Justice Bah adjourned the matter to the 8th November this year with another witness set to testify against the three accused men.
Copyright © Politico Online 27/10/21
