By Amin Kef Sesay
Appeal’s Court Judge, Justice Alhaji Momo-Jah Stevens has sentenced one 38-year-old commercial bike rider, Morlai Turay, for sexually penetrating a 15-year-old pupil. This is the first ruling since the official commencement of the Sexual Offences Model Court last week.
According to the particulars of offence, the convict on an unknown date in July, 2020 in Freetown engaged in an act of Sexual Penetration with Mabinty Kanu (not real name), a 12-year-old-pupil contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012, No. 12 of 2012.
In her evidence, the victim said she recognized the convict residing in the same community. She said sometime in July, she was sent by her Aunt to collect a pan when she met the convict who confronted her at a nearby gutter at Patton Street around 8:00pm.
“She called me and forcefully pushed me in a gutter and removed my pants,” she explained in tears, adding that, “I screamed loudly but he threatened to kill me if I didn’t keep quiet so I kept quiet whilst he sexually penetrated me.”
She explained that she later saw blood oozing down her legs. Within the process, she continued, she later overheard her Aunt who came in search of her. She said she was told by the convict to use another route to home and she complied in tears. According to her, her Aunty later came and questioned her.
“I was in panick and fear so I told my Aunty that I fell in a very deep gutter,” the victim added and stressed that, “My Aunt later saw the blood and noticed I had been sexually penetrated and the matter was reported to the Family Support Unit, Eastern Police Station.”
According to the Medical Report, “the hymen was completely ruptured and there was copious offensive yellowish discharge in the vagina.”
In his ruling, the Court of Appeal’s Judge, Justice Alhaji Momo-Jah Stevens said the accused is guilty as charged and he has also asked for mercy. He therefore sentenced Morlai Turay to 15 years imprisonment.
