Hon. Justice Abdul Rahman Mansaray of the High Court in Kenema, has sent one John Sara Koroma, a forty year old man to 15 years in prison after convicting him of sexually penetrating an eight year old girl. The court concluded that the accused on January 11, 2020 at Blama Road in Kenema, engaged in an act of sexual penetration with the child.
In his sentencing, Justice Mansaray gave the minimum penalty of 15 years imprisonment to the convict after having heard the state counsel and the brief facts of the case and the Defense counsel’s plea in mitigation. The defense pleaded for the Judge to show mercy to the convict firstly on the basis that the accused was a first time offender , and secondly because he did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty to the charge of Sexual Penetration.
In another development, Baindu Kanneh a business woman, aged 28 years of Morray Town section, Kenema was discharged by Justice Mansaray because the prosecution did not bring any evidence to substantiate the charge of wounding with intent contrary to section 18 of the Offences against the Person’s Act of 1861 for which she had been arraigned.
The Police had alleged that Kanneh on April 20, 2020 at Kenema wounded Sheku Zoker with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
In his Judgment, Justice Mansaray having heard the state counsel offering no evidence against the accused, then discharged the accused of the charge which had been levied against her on the indictment dated 14th September, 2020.
Momoh Lansana state counsel and customary law officer in the Eastern Region prosecuted both matters whilst Patrick Kamara of legal Aid Board for Kenema and Kailahun Districts represented the accused persons.
By Mohamed Mansaray in Kenema
30/11/2020. ISSUE NO: 7960