By Newman Anthony Levey in Bo
Sierra Leone police in Pujehun District Southern Sierra Leone has in a press conference held in Pujehun Town denied allegations that they have released a suspect in their custody who has been accused of sexually penetrating a 14- year-old schoolgirl in the District.
Addressing pressmen on Sunday, 12 June 2022, the Community Relations and Information officer of the Sierra Leone Police for Pujehun District, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Kanawa John Square, made reference to publications on a certain website and other WhatsApp forums by a Member of Parliament in the district accusing the police of compromising an alleged sexual penetration.
“The allegations are that Pujehun police is backing one teacher who sexually penetrated one 14-years-old girl in Pujehun District", he said.
He explained that the said case against 22-year-old Umaru Bah, of Ngardohun village, in the Malen Chiefdom who happen to be a volunteer teacher was transferred from Sahn Malen Police FSU together with the suspect on the 18 May this year and that he had already spent two days in police custody.
Upon receiving the files, he said all due processes were observed including issuing medical forms to the alleged victim, interviews were conducted, and that the suspect was detained for another eleven days before bail was granted with strict conditions. “Reliable Sureties, and that he should be confined within Pujehun town so he could report in every four days. With regards to bail conditions, it should not be determined by the complainant. Bail is a right and it’s free,” he said.
However, he said the suspect violated the bail condition of not moving outside the township of Pujehun which is what offended the family of the alleged victim and alerted the police.
The information officer noted that the Police Regional Commander was contacted and instructed for the rearrests and detention of the same suspect immediately.
He said the suspect is now in their custody and that matter is with State counsel in Bo for legal advice.
The reaction of the police came after the Honourable Member of Parliament for Constituency 104 in Pujehun District wrote on social media and blasted the police for compromising rape with the headline “Pujehun Police backs a Primary School Teacher who sexually penetrated his 14- year old pupil”
“The Police arrested the teacher and then released him. He was rearrested after the girl’s father and I reported the matter to the Regional Police Commander in Bo initially. The Pujehun police didn't carry out the arrest as ordered by the regional police Commander but went on to lie that they rearrested the teacher but escaped while in police custody. A police officer Mr. Samura told me on the phone", Hon. Shiaka Sama narrated.
He added that for fear that the news will be widely circulated on social media, he was informed that the teacher has been rearrested and was in Police custody.
"All indications are that the police who the victim’s father says have been bribed are protecting the teacher from facing the law after one month the matter was reported to the police", he alleged.
The post also alleged that the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE) in Pujehun District was aware but that no action was taken. There is a popular demand for justice by the people of Pujehun District in relation to the incident and therefore urged the police to charge the matter to court.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (15/06/22)
