April 12, 2016 Hassan Gbassay Koroma
One Omara Bendu, 25, was remanded at the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre for sexually abusing a girl aged 8, by presiding magistrate at the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1, Dr. Abubakarr Binneh Kamara.
The accused was charged with a count of sexual penetration contrary to section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012, which says that “A person who engages in an act of sexual penetration with a child commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding fifteen years.”
The prosecution alleges that Bendu on Thursday, 17 March, 2016 sexually abused the victim at an address in Freetown.
Magistrate Kamara refused to grant the accused bail despite a passionate plea by his lawyer.
Magistrate Dr. Kamara also remanded Abdul Sillah and Haja M’balu Kanu to the same prison and Jomo Kenyatta Road Female Correctional respectively, after their arraignment for committing conspiracy and sexual penetration.
The prosecution says that between 20 February to 10 March, 2016 the duo conspired to sexually penetrate the victim.
Defence counsel A. K. Kargbo failed in his bail application on behalf of both accused persons.
The matters continue.