By Peter Lamboi
Thirty years old Sales Manager of Sam Pat Food Shop situated at 356 Calaba Town in Freetown, Mohamed Daboh is reported to be on the run for fear of his life. Daboh fled to an unknown destination after his life was subjected to several death threats from a group of alleged gang rapists and drug traffickers in the Calaba Town community.
According to the Area Chief, Pa Alhaji Mansaray, a 23-year-old lady came to the shop to buy some food items to prepare lunch for her son on the 30th of August 2020.
He said few minutes after the arrival of the lady, Daboh saw five young people dragging the said lady across Jabbie Street and gang raped her.
He said Daboh immediately alerted the Calaba Town Police Station who immediately rushed to the scene. He said three of the alleged rapists were arrested while the two escaped.
Daboh who is the Prosecution Witness Number One in the said matter at the Magistrates Court No: 1 before Magistrate Mark Ngeba was expected to testify yesterday when some rapists and their collaborators threatened to kill him if he attempts to testify against their colleagues.
Magistrate Mark Ngeba insisted that Daboh should testify in the said matter since he is the principal witness who alerted the police.
After several persuasions, Mohamed Daboh agreed to testify on the 17th September 2020. His testimony promoted Magistrate Mark Ngeba to transfer the matter to the high court before Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens which promoted Daboh to flee for fear of his life to an unknown destination.
At the high court, on the 24th September 2020, Justice Momoh Jah Stevens later sentenced the three accused persons to nineteen years imprisonment each after the nine man jury found them guilty of raping the lady who fought for her life at the Rokupa Hospital and presently traumatized with no care for her son.
In Sierra Leone, anyone arrested, charged to court and found guilty for rape and sexual penetration goes for life imprisonment.
The government took the decision after the President of Sierra Leone declared a state of emergency on rape and sexual penetration and established Special Court on rape matters.
A senior family member Pa Sallieu Daboh told this medium that the alleged rapists threatened the whole family with death because their son Mohamed Daboh testified against their colleagues.
Daboh’s testimony in court was very important because he saw all what happened with the victim who is now suffering from brain disorder condition. She was subjected to harsh and brutal sexual intercourse with the rapists.
This development prompted Daboh to escape to an unknown destination as the rapists and their collaborators threatened to destroy the business of Daboh’s employer and since then Mohamed Daboh whereabouts’ remains unknown.
Police Constable Alpha Kamara confirmed the alleged death threats of Daboh and his family. He said the police have declared a man hunt for the alleged rapists.
The mother of Mohamed Daboh, Haja Fatu Daboh and his sister said they are in complete fear of their lives since his son/brother testified against the rapists. She said they have received several death threats and reported the matter to the police but could not see any action to ensure their safety.
