April 20, 2016 By Hawa Amara & Hassan Gbassay Koroma
An OSD –Operational Support Division – officer was yesterday remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road by Magistrate Dr. Abou Bhakarr Binneh-Kamara, presiding at the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1, after he was arraigned for sexually abusing his step-daughter
Dauda Koroma faces one count charge of sexual penetration of a child, 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 15 years.”
According to the prosecution, the accused on 31 March, 2016 at Rogbangba Village in Hasting, sexually penetrated the victim, his step-daughter, aged 12 years.
In her testimony in chambers, the victim said that on the above date the accused took her to a field for a snap shoot, and that on their arrival the accused instructed her to remove her pant but she refused.
“When I refused to remove my pant the accused then told me he would stop taking care of me if I did not agree to what he was telling me, she explained.”
The victim continues that on the following day, after she came from school, the accused beat her mercilessly for not taking care of her book. She added that later the accused called her to his room on the pretext of giving him a pen and paper.
“As I was about to hand him the pen and the paper the accused grabbed me, removed my pant, pushed me into his bed and inserted his penis into by private part; I felt pain and I started bleeding,” she told the court.
She stated that when her mother went into the room to rescue her, the accused slapped her, and added that they both went to Hasting Police Station and made a report, and that a medical paper was issued for the Rainbow Center, which treats victims of rape and sexual violence.
The accused was not represented by a lawyer. The matter was prosecuted by Sergeant 922 Dumbuya J.
Magistrate Dr Binneh-Kamara adjourned the mater to 21 April.