By Mohamed Foday Conteh
18-year-old George Walker was arraigned at the Sexual Offences Model Court in Freetown on 30th November this year on a one-count indictment of sexual penetration of a child.
The State Prosecutor, Oladipo Robin-Mason Jr. led Detective Sergeant 8385, Rebecca Conteh, as a prosecution witness.
Detective Conteh said she was on duty on the 6th March 2020 when a case and enquiry file of sexual penetration was allocated to her for investigation. She said she issued a medical request form to the mother on behalf of the 6-year-old girl for examination and treatment at the Rainbo Centre, Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH).
She added that the said medical report was returned to the station endorsed and later obtained a statement from the said victim. The detective said the accused was later arrested by the mother of the girl and brought to the station.
She said on the 27th of April 2020, she and her colleague detective obtained a voluntary caution statement (VCS) from Walker.
Detective Conteh said she and her colleague together with the 6-year-old child, her mother and the accused visited the said crime scene where the said child pointed to where the accused penetrated her.
In the VCS the accused said that the alleged victim is his relative who he used to collect from school. He said on the day in question, the mother of the child pleaded with him to collect the girl from school since she was busy with work.
Walker said he collected the alleged victim with two other children and went home. He said he was sitting in the living room when the 6-year-old girl met him there.
He said that he asked the girl to leave the living room but that she refused and that it was there that he used his finger to penetrate the child.
When questioned by the police, Walker said that he was oblivious of the fact that it was a crime to tamper with underage and pleaded with the police not to charge the matter to court.
Justice Manuela Harding adjourned the matter to the 7th December 2021 with the medical doctor that conducted the examination at Rainbo Centre set to testify.
Copyright © Politico Online 03/12/21
