Two Sentenced to Long Term Imprisonment for Sexually Penetrating Girl,13

By Abubakarr Harding

High Court Judge presiding over cases at the Sexual Offences Model Court in Freetown, Honourable Justice Mohamed Bawoh on the 21^st July, 202 sentenced 31-year-old Karim Swarray, a Pegapak Seller and 37-year-old Abdul Koroma, a messenger to 100 years and 60 years imprisonment respectfully for the offence of Sexual Penetration.

Accused persons Karim Swarray and Abdul Koroma were before the court on a four count indictment of Sexual Penetration committed against a 13-year-old pupil.

It was alleged that Karim (1st accused) on the 14th and between the 15th and the 21st of August 2021, at Freetown in the Western Area of the country engaged in an act of Sexual Penetration with the victim.

The second accused, Abdul Koroma was also alleged to have on the 21st and 22nd day of August 2021, at Freetown in the Western Area of the Sierra Leone engaged in an act of Sexual Penetration with the victim.

Upon their arraignment, both accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The State Prosecutor E. T. Jalloh’s Application for a trial by judge alone was granted by Justice Bawoh and she led in evidence seven witnesses in support of her case.

In her statement to the Police, the 13-year-old victim at the time (now 14 years) said she was held against her wish by the second accused Karim Swarray for a week in his house where he sexually penetrated her and later took her to the house of the second accused Abdul Koroma who equally penetrated her in a violent manner.

Narrating her ordeal in court, she said, “I was tied to the chair in Karim Swaray’s room and he (Karim) was smoking “Kush” and emitting the smoking on my face.”

Solemnly continuing, she said “my mouth was stuffed with clothes and I was violently penetrated.”

At the close of the Prosecution’s case, both accused persons relied on their statement to the police.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Bawoh noted that the Prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt for which the accused persons were found guilty.

In their allocutus, both the convicts pleaded for mercy.

In respect of counts one and two, convict Karim Swarray was sentenced to 100 years’ imprisonment, 50 years for each count with both counts to run concurrently.

With regards to count 3 and 4, convict Abdul Koroma was sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment, 30 years for each count with the sentence to run concurrently.