By Politico staff writer
32-year-old Abdul Brima Sesay, a gold miner in Tonkolili district northern Sierra Leone has on the 8th July 2021 received a 10 year sentence for sexually penetrating a 14-year-old girl.
Sesay was before Justice Unisa Kamara at the criminal session in Magburuka Town, Northern Sierra Leone on one-count indictment of Sexual Penetration of a Child Contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act. Justice Kamara granted the trial by judge alone following an application made by State Counsel, A.Y. Mansaray, after the accused, denied the allegation upon his arraignment.
The accused on the 8th February 2021 at Nerekoroh village, Simiria Chiefdom Tonkolili engaged in an act of sexual penetration with the victim.
The Prosecution, during the course of the trial led in evidence six witnesses including the investigator Alusine Kamara, one Dr. John Fallah Yilla and tendered three depositional statements.
The Prosecution said that the accused on the said date at Nerekoroh Village, entered into the room of the victim at night, inserted cloth into her mouth to prevent her from shouting, removed her clothes and underwear and sexually penetrated her.
The medical report revealed that there were abrasions on the posterior wall of the vagina of the victim with a hymen that was perforated.
The accused at the end of the Prosecution's case relied on his statement to the police in which he denied the allegation and told the police that he was a school teacher and lived in the same compound with the victim.
After examination of the totality of the evidence before the court, Justice Kamara said that he was convinced that the Prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and therefore found the accused guilty of the offence.
In his plea in mitigation, Lawyer from Legal Aid Board Ibrahim Samba, told the court that the convict was a first-time offender and a family man with two children.
Sesay also pleaded for mercy but Justice Kamara sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment.
The court sessions are being funded by the Judiciary with funds from the government of Sierra Leone and aimed at taking justice closer to the people.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 12/07/21
