A court in Moyamba has remanded Marie Thorlley, a traditional initiator, after she was charged with unlawfully performing Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on a 13-year-old girl in Ribbi Chiefdom.

The incident reportedly occurred in violation of Sierra Leone’s child protection laws.

According to the report, Thorlley was arrested on July 31, 2025, and made her first appearance in Court on August 4, where she was denied bail and remanded in custody.

The accused, in a follow-up hearing on 12th August, admitted under oath that she initiated the girl with the consent of the child’s grandmother, Hawa Jah.

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The child has since been placed in a safe home while the matter is pending further proceedings.

The case has been adjourned to 26th August 2025