By Mohamed Conteh
Father of a 5-year-old victim in a sexual penetration matter at the Sexual Model Court in Freetown has on the 6th July 2021 told the court of how one Umar Bai Kamara, his apprentice, had used his finger to penetrate his daughter.
He said he was in his room on the 27th August 2020 when he heard his wife, Finda, inquiring from the children what had happened since the victim cried of pain in her vagina when she was being bathed. He said that he heard his daughter alleging that the accused had sexual intercourse with her using his finger.
He said that grim account forced him to come out from his room to the parlor where the wife was interrogating the girl and another child. He explained that the wife confirmed to him what the minors had alleged; that Kamara used his finger to penetrate their vaginas.
He said it was at that moment that he asked the wife that they proceed to the big sitting room where the grandparents of the victim were. He said getting into the sitting room, they found the accused there and when he confronted him with the allegation, he burst into tears, denying that he had used his fingers to penetrate both children. However, he said the accused later said that he did use his fingers on the alleged victim in this matter but not the other child.
He said it was at that point that the grandparents of the victim told him to inform the elder sister of the accused since she was the one that brought him as a protégé of the father. He said that he did as advised but that the sister gave an excuse that her children needed medical attention and that another brother of the accused will handle the matter.
The father told the court he then went to the Approved School Police Post where he made a statement about the incident. He said a medical request form was issued for his daughter to seek medical attention at the Rainbo Centre, Cottage Hospital in Freetown.
During cross-examination, Koroma told the court that the accused had been a respectable apprentice until the said incident. He confirmed that the accused had acceded to the allegation that he did use his finger to penetrate the victim.
He said that although he was not present where his child had cried of pain in her vagina when she was being bathed but stated that his room window was close to the scene of the discussion.
The matter was adjourned by Justice Manuella Harding to the 20th July 2021, pending testimony from a police officer.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online
