Hon. Justice Abdul Rahman Mansaray has sentenced 69-year-old, Mohamed Jinnah Moriba to five years in prison for sexually touching a 12-year-old girl in Kenema district.
The accused had been charged for sexual touching contrary to section 20(1) (a) of the Sexual Offences Act 2012 Act No. 12 of 2020.
The case for the prosecution is that the accused touched the 12-year-old child in a sexual manner on May 12, 2020 in Kenema District.
Momoh Lansana, state counsel and customary law officer, when prosecuting the matter had told the court that on May 12, 2020, in Kenema the convict visited the mum of the 12-year-old child. The state counsel said, in the circumstance, the convict indicated to the 12- year-old to meet him at an unfinished building.
He added that Moriba, the convict, had instructed the victim to remove her clothes including her pants and put them on an empty rice bag, and played with her private part. According to the state counsel, the convict claimed that the victim told him to have sex with her.
“I followed her upon her arrival. There I touched her private part and it was there I realized that she was a small girl.”
According to the state counsel, the matter was charged to Magistrate Court for sexual penetration where the preliminary investigation was conducted.
The state counsel said, section 20(I) (A) Sexual Offenses Act No. 12 of 2012 states that the penalty does not exceed fifteen years (15 Years). He however said that the power is in the bosom of the Judge considering the fact that the convict did not waste the court’s time.
The convict in mitigation pleaded for mercy and told the court that he has four children with no father and mother.
In his ruling, Justice Mansaray having heard the pleading mercy of the convict, said the convict is a first time offender and have not wasted the court’s time. The convict was sentenced to five years in prison.
By Mohamed Mansaray in Kenema
30/10/2020. ISSUE NO: 7940