April 18, 2019
By Yusufu S. Bangura
A 15-year old sexual assault victim has narrated how she was abused by her school mates.
The victim testified that on the day of the incident, they were celebrating teachers’ day appreciation, when she decided to have a nap.
She told the court that a certain boy came to her and asked her hand in friendship, to which she agreed, while the said boy left.
She narrated that after the boy returned later, she informed him that she was not feeling bright.
The victim said the boy got her some drinks, but that she felt some dizziness after taking in the said drinks.
She testified that the first accused took her to a certain man called Taylor, where the accused persons surrounded her. She narrated that having felt terrified, she enquired as to what the problem was, but they replied that they wanted to attend a certain carnival.
She said on their way to the said carnival, the accused persons forcefully took her into one of the classrooms, while one Unisa pushed her on a certain desk.
She said while they were struggling, the second accused held her hands tight and placed her on the floor.
“After they placed me on the floor, they tore my dress, removed my pants and one of them noticed that I was on my period and he informed them. But they refused and Taylor placed his finger inside my vagina and penetrated his penis into it, followed by the first, second and third accused persons,” she testified.
She added that the fourth accused attempted to have sex with her, but that she smashed a bottle on the floor to the hearing of the security guard, who penetrated his torchlight towards them. She narrated that the accused persons escaped and left her on the floor naked.
She said when her friend arrived at the scene, she met her unconscious and that after she regained consciousness, she explained to her about what had transpired between her and the accused persons.
The victim told the court that in the morning hours, she informed her sister (Hawa Kamara) about the incident, who later told their uncle.
She added that they went to the Lumley Police Station and reported the matter.
She said they were issued with a medical report form which they took to the Rainbow Centre at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) for treatment and later returned the medical form to the police and made statement.
The accused persons, Joel Duke, 18, Muctar Bai Kanu, 18, Andrew Sam Sheku, 19, and Alhaji Fuad Kamara, 18, all pupils of the SOS School at Lumley in Freetown.
They are before the court to answer to two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony to wit sexual penetration and sexual penetration of a child contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012.
Police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent Moses Moore, alleges that all accused persons on 8th of February, 2019, at SOS School compound, Lumley in Freetown, conspired with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit sexual penetration of a child.
He further alleged in count two that all accused on the same date and place, sexually penetrated their school mate, who is below the age of 18 to wit 15 years.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Abdul Sheriff adjourned the matter to Wednesday 24th April.