By Janet A Sesay
Justice Monfred Sesay of the Freetown High Court yesterday sentenced one Mohammed Bangura to fifteen (15) years imprisonment after the accused was guilty of penetrating an eight-year-old girl.
The accused was standing trial on one count of sexual penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offense Act of 2012.
The particulars of offence state that the accused on 12th March, 2017 in Freetown engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a child.
Prior to handing down the sentence, Justice Monfred Sesay stated that the State Prosecutor Joseph Sesay called six witnesses to support their case.
The Judge said four factual witnesses testified in court and all the evidence from PW1 to PW4 was corroborated, noting that a police witness and Dr. Matilda King of the Rainbo Centre also testified in court.
He said the voluntary caution statements of the accused were also tendered in court and looking at the evidence and exhibits tendered in court, the accused was found guilty of the said offense.
Defense Counsel from the Sierra Leone Legal Aid Board (LAB), Mamoud Karimu made plea mitigation on behalf of the accused by stating that he was a first-time offender and that he was a family man.
He also pleaded with the Judge to temper justice with mercy by not posing a custodian sentence on the accused but a minimal one.
Justice Monfred Sesay therefore sentenced the accused to 15 years imprisonment.