A Magistrate, sitting in the southern district town of Pujehun, has committed for trial in the High Court in Bo a case of sexual penetration of a minor involving the assistant procurement officer of the Pujehun District Council.
Magistrate Alford Fidawi said Allieu Vandi, who told the police he was 19 years old, had a case to answer in the High Court on two counts of sexual penetration against a child and meeting a child for sexual purposes, with the Sexual Offences Act 2012 being his instrument.
The police prosecutor tendered in evidence the medical report of the 13-year-old and the statement of the accused.
Vandi was granted bail in the sum of Le 20 million and one surety.
When the Assistant Procurement Officer made his first appearance before them on 15th July, Justices of the Peace James MD SAMBA and Susan Mbalu Sheriff said they had no powers to conduct preliminary investigations into the matter. They then remanded him in prison.
A civil society activist in Pujehun town welcomed the magistrate's decision to send the case to the high court. Francis Tokowah, Programme Manager of People United to Save Humanity said "it's alarming that people in positions of authority are always being caught in such sexual offences in the district".
He said his organisation would work with other groups "to ensure that anybody involved in such crimes be brought to trial".
(C) Politico 24/07/14
