By Janet Sesay

Sorie Sesay who was, in 2019, sentenced to ten years by a magistrate court in Kono for raping his wife has been freed by Justice Monfred Sesay during a trial at Sefadu correctional facility in Kono district, Eastern Sierra Leone.

The convict, during the trial, said he had a child with his wife who brought him to court for rape.

 Sesay however admitted that he raped his wife since she turned down several of his sexual request, but asked for mercy assuring the court that he would not repeat such action.

Justice Sesay however cautioned the convict that although he  married his wife, he should not force her into sex adding that “it is a crime.”

 The judge went on to state that the wife should consent to the sex, and women should be respected for who they are.

When asked if his wife still stayed in his house, the convict responded that his wife had moved to her family with the child adding that he wanted to reach her, but transport constraint would make it difficult for him.

In a show of pity, Justice Sesay requested Legal Aid Board to assist convict with NLe250 (two hundred and fifty Leones) so that he could start his life.

He said the convict should use the money to appease his wife and buy something for his child.

  NLe150, the judge further advised, should be used as fare to visit his wife and apologise to the family that he would not do it again.

“Your release is based on going to your wife and apologise to her,” the judge further directed the accused while reminding him that the record before him showed  he was “properly convicted.”

The convict, he went on, had been quite remorseful of his act and that the recommendation made by Superintendent Kabba showed that he had been in his best behaviour while in custody.

The freed convict, in a happy mood, appreciated the judge for clemency.