By Musa Paul Feika
Military Officer Foday Farmah attached to the Peace Mission Training Centre (PTMC) in New York, Hastings, has made his first appearance before Magistrate Abdul Sheriff of the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 3, for allegedly penetrating a 13 year old girl in Hastings.
The first witness and who also doubles as the victim testified before the court that he recognized the accused as her father’s working mate (squad mate) at the Peace Mission Training Center New York, Hastings and recalled the 22nd February 2019.
The victim continued that on that day in question, she was sent by her mother to take food to her father at the same Peace Mission Training Center at Hastings.
She furthered that after she has left the food and on her way back home, she saw the accused standing along the road.
When she approached the accused he called her but she refused and ran away.
But according to her, the accused ran after her and got hold of her and later took her to the nearby bush, removed her pants and put his penis into her Virginia and sexually penetrated her.
The witness informed the court that later on the accused ran away but he admonished her not to disclose to anyone what exactly transpired between them and which she did.
In her testimony, she maintained that throughout that particular week her mother was dissatisfied about her health condition and this prompted her mother to take her to a friend and it was confirmed that she has been tampered (deflowered).
She told the court that she made statement at Waterloo Police Station.
The accused was before the court on one count charge of sexual penetration of a child, contrary to section 12 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2019.
The Police file sheet indicated that Foday Farmah on the 22nd February 2019 at New York, Hastings Peace Mission Training Centre penetrated a child below the age of eighteen years to wit thirteen years.
Defense Counsel L. Bayoh made an application on behalf of his client, citing section 79 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.
Bail was refused and the accused was remanded in custody while the matter was adjourned to 31st July, 2019.