By Septimus Senessie in Kono
The parents of a nine-year old girl allegedly raped by a survivor of the deadly Ebola virus disease are in fear that she may have contracted the virus.
The alleged incident occurred in Tankoro Chiefdom in the eastern Kono district of Sierra Leone.
The accused, a 19-year old chap we will only name by his first name (Komba), who reportedly survived the disease early this year, allegedly raped Fatmata (not her real name) by luring her into his bedroom with biscuit.
The Kono District Ebola Response Centre (DERC) has placed Fatmata under a 15-day ‘intensive observation’ period at its Ebola Orphan Interim Care Centre at Yardu Road in Koidu Town.
The police in Tankoro, who are investigating the case, last week allowed Politico a rare access to the alleged victim who explained her ordeal in the presence of her mother and step father.
The timid looking girl, who told Politico of her desire to become a nurse, explained that she was going to watch TV in a neighbor`s room when Komba called and offered her biscuits and chewing gum. On entering his room he “pulled me forcefully into his bed and raped me,” the girl narrated.
Asked why she did not scream to alert other people to her defense, she said her attacker stuffed her mouth with clothes.
Komba survived the Ebola disease after a time at the Kenema District Ebola Treatment Centre last year, at the height of the dwindling epidemic which has claimed about 4000 lives in Sierra Leone alone. He was discharged on January 14th 2015.
Fatmata`s family`s fears have grown by the widely held view that particles of the Ebola virus remain in a male survivor`s semen for months.
Komba has denied the rape allegation against him. He told Politico that he believed the accusation against him was influenced by an apparent feud between the two families.
According to Komba, his elder sister had earlier refused a request by the mother of his alleged victim to allow them carry along a foam mattress they had borrowed.
Meanwhile, back at the DERC Ebola Orphan Interim Care Centre, fighting back tears, Albert Dembi, Fatmata`s step father, accused the Family Support Unit at the Tankoro Police division and the District Ebola Response Centre of seeking to compromise the case. He said the officials of the two institutions were trying to compromise with the alleged rapist because he was an Ebola Survivor. Dembi wondered why since the alleged incident was reported on Friday, 3rd October, no arrest was made and the alleged perpetrator was moving about in the community a freeman.
Dembi also said he wasn’t given the chance as a father to supervise his daughter while they were obtaining statement from her. In addition, he said his family was asked by the DERC officials to pay a fine of One million five hundred thousand Leones (Le1.5M) in reaction to a complaint by the Kono District branch of the Sierra Leone Association of Ebola Survivors (SLAES), which accused them of provoking the accused rapist of infecting their daughter with the Ebola virus.
In line with an existing Ebola bye-law, residents of Kono face of a fine of between Le500, 000 and Le1.5M if found guilty of stigmatizing Ebola survivors.
Dembi also described the isolation of his daughter in a “secret” location as an attempt to prevent them from being accessed by journalists and civil society activists.
He has threatened to forcefully remove his daughter from the center if his concerns were not addressed.
Reverend Fengai Nyandemo, Deputy Coordinator of the Kono DERC, described the allegations from Mr Dembi as “baseless” and coming from a “frustrated” man.
Nyandemo told Politico that the alleged victim was placed at the Interim Care Center, which is located four miles away from her home at the Resettlement Camp established by the diamond mining giant OCTEA Koidu Limited for communities affected by their mining activities, so that they could “observe her health condition.” He said at the time the incident was reported, the victim did not meet the Ebola Case Definition.
Reverend Nyandemo dismissed any suggestion of compromise, saying their concern is about Ebola and that the police were responsible for the investigation. He also denied levying any fine on the family.
The Kono DERC deputy coordinator however said following the incident, they received a report from the parent of the alleged rapist accusing the Dembis of accusing their son of infecting their daughter with the Ebola Virus. But Nyandemo said because there was no evidence to prove that Komba was provoked, the Dembis were not fined but were only warned not to attempt it.
Inspector Margret Corgi, Manager at the Tankoro Police Division FSU, declined to comment on the matter, noting that she was under the instruction of her superiors “not to divulge any information.”
She however disclosed that the matter was set for court on October 21, the day Fatmata is expected to complete her 15 days of observation.
The local FSU boss also said the suspect had been handed over to the chairman of the Kono branch of the SLAES “for safe keeping”, but was ordered to be reporting to the police station every morning.
Dr. Roland Cashion-Marsh, Medical Superintendent at the Koidu Government Hospital, also declined to give out any information regarding the medical examination on the alleged victim. He said only the police and the court were entitled to such information.
Even the Kono Rainbow Centre, which houses victims of sexual abuse, refused to provide any information to Politico. Its manager, Rebecca Kallay, only said they had assisted with “some medical treatments” for the victim. She added that it was against their policy, especially when it concerned cases of such nature, to disclose information.
Activists in Kono say rape incidents have seen an upward trend lately and they are calling for rapid action to stem it.
(C) Politico Online 21/10/15
