By Josephine Isha Kamara
The death of a 14-year-old girl called Mamie Karim, who was reportedly raped by a group of men in Pujehun, Sierra Leone, has prompted widespread outrage, as well as a tremendous demand that the men who are currently in police custody — accused with rape – be prosecuted with murder.
The girl was reportedly gang raped in Pujehun District’s Manowo Village, Malen Chiefdom. Mamie was evacuated from Manowo to Pujehun Headquarters town when her condition deteriorated, The girl had been raped, according to medical assessment.
The kid was sent from Pujehun Government Hospital to the Southern Regional Government Hospital in Bo on the orders of Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs Sylvia Blyden for a specialized gynaecological examination and other specialized care.
On the 17th of March, 2017 she was admitted to the Female Surgical Ward, where she got daily visits and full assistance from Social Welfare Ministry staff and a local NGO, the ‘Commit and Act Foundation.’
On admission, the Senior Medical Superintendent, Dr. R. Williamson Taylor, a Gynaecologist, made a provisional diagnosis. Management and nursing measures for the child’s well-being were continued under strict observation. She was improving as a result of the therapy.
Mamie had trouble walking at first. However, she progressively improved and was doing well by the end of the year. She was able to get around the hospital with only a little assistance.
When the Minister of Social Welfare, Dr. Blyden, paid her a visit in Bo, she was photographed smiling. Mamie, a 14-year-old girl, passed suddenly on May 9th, 2017.
When this reporter contacted the minister of social and children’s affairs, Dr. Sylvia Olayinka Blyden, to explain our report, she was certain about the legal action that should be done now. “I can confirm that the girl was sadly raped, reportedly by more than one men – including male relatives of hers,” she claimed. In February of this year, a crime was committed. However, her family in Pujehun’s distant hamlet was sluggish to report.
“The gang rape was discovered in March 2017 by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender & Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA).” And, because to my strong personal involvement and the assistance of Attorney General and Justice Minister – Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, we were able to guarantee that the accused perpetrators (including a male relative) were apprehended, together with the police. They were quickly charged with offenses, including gang rape, in the Pujehun Magistrate Court (forced sexual penetration). Bail was denied to all of the accused, and they were all remanded in jail.
“Those criminal charges were filed in the same month of March 2017, when we first learned of the rape, with the assistance of the Attorney General.
“However, the poor girl was clearly ill in March 2017.” So I ordered Mr. Patrick Bangura, my Southern Regional Director, to take the girl and her mother from Pujehun to Bo Government Hospital for better medical care. In March 2017, I paid my first visit to the impoverished youngster in the hospital as the Honourable Minister of Children’s Affairs. Since March 2017, my ministry has been keeping a close check on her in the hospital, while also taking care of all of her nutritional, medical, and psychological needs. But, only a few days ago, she took a sharp turn for the worst, and her condition quickly deteriorated.
“Unfortunately, she passed away today, May 9th, 2017, about lunchtime. “I quickly alerted all appropriate authorities, including the police, medical, and judicial sectors, to secure the girl’s body for post-mortem examination. Should the post mortem investigation reveal that her death was caused by the February 2017 rape, the Attorney General’s office is on high alert to have the March 2017 sexual penetration charges elevated to murder. In reality, on the 9th of May, 2017, I spent about two hours with the Director of Public Prosecutions, Suleiman Bah Esq., discussing this matter.
“The public may rest certain that both the Justice Minister and I will do all in our power to see that justice is done.” It is true, however, that the country as a whole, not only Pujehun, faces issues in safeguarding our children, and we will continue to strive as a Government to improve our service delivery for our children, including sensitizing families and communities on child rights and child protection.”
