By Abass Jalloh
High Court Judge, Justice Mohamed Bawoh, has sentenced 31-year-old Karim Swaray, a (pegapak) seller, and 37-year-old Abdul Koroma, a messenger, to 100 years and 60 years imprisonment for committing an offence of Sexual Penetration.
The two accused persons, Karim Swaray (1st) and Abdul Koroma (2nd) were before the court on a four-count charge of Sexual Penetration committed against a 13-year-old schoolgirl.
On counts one and two, the 1st accused was sentenced to 100 years imprisonment – 50 years for each count and the sentence is to run concurrently.
On counts three and four, the second accused was sentenced to 60 years imprisonment – 30 years for each count and the sentence is to run concurrently.
Between the 15th and 21st of August 2021 in Freetown, the 1st accused was alleged to have sexually penetrated the victim, while the 2nd accused also between the 21st and 22nd of August 2021 in Freetown was alleged to have sexually penetrated the victim.
Both accused persons earlier pleaded not guilty and pleaded for mercy after they were convicted.
In his judgment, Justice Bawoh stated that the Prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt for which the accused persons were found guilty.
The victim in her statement to the police stated that she was held against her wish by the second accused for a week in his house where he sexually penetrated her and later took her to the house of the second accused who equally penetrated her in a violent manner.
She testified in court that she was tied to a chair in the room of the first accused, poured out smoke on her face while smoking narcotic (kush), stuffed clothes in her mouth, and was violently penetrated.
The prosecution led in seven witnesses in support of her case during the trial.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (25/07/22)
