By Musa Paul Feika
Magistrate Abdul Sheriff of Magistrate Court No. 7 has committed a rape matter at the High Court for further trial. The rape case involves three accused, namely Foday Sesay, Alfred Bangura and Saidu Sesay. The accused are allegedly standing trial for raping a twenty seven years old woman residing at Calaba Town, in the east of Freetown.
The presiding magistrate, in his committal statement, noted that having heard the evidences from the prosecution, he is convinced that enough evidence have been adduced to commit the matter at the High Court for trial.
The three accused were before the court on one count charge of raping, contrary to section 6 of the Sexual Offences Act No12 of 2012.
According to the charge sheet, on Wednesday the 19th October 2018 at Bangura Street, Calaba Town, in freetown, Saidu Sesay, Foday Sesay and Alfred Bangura raped twenty seven years old women without her consent.
The victim in the said matter informed the court that she recognizes the accused and could recall the 19th October 2018. She continued that, on the night in question, she was at the residence of her friend watching television, and at around 02:00 am she left for her residence.
She disclosed to the court that when she arrived in her bedroom, she removed her clothes in order to get fresh air. She added that, in few seconds, she saw the accused rushing into her bedroom. She said they held her by the throat and removed her pants and had sex with her. She continued that all the accused had sex with her one after the other.
She continued that her small brother’s friend, commonly called Ahmed Koroma Excell, was sleeping in one of the rooms. She said when he heard the fracas between the rapists and the victim, he came outside but the accused pushed him and ran away.
Amidu Koroma, police witness two, a friend to the victim, disclosed that he knows the accused and could recall the 19th October 2018. While he was sleeping in one of the rooms on the night in question he suddenly heard a fracas outside which, according to him, warranted him to go outside.
He continued that when he came outside he saw the accused, who later pushed him and ran away. He said he later brought a towel to cover the victim, who had been sexually abused.
The matter, he went on, was later reported to the Calaba Town Police Station and all the witnesses made statements.
The matter was committed at the High Court for further trial and all the accused were refused bail, while the matter was adjourned to the 30th January, 2019.