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A 55-year-old man, Abubakarr Jalloh, has been convicted and sentenced to seventy-five (75) years imprisonment after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent to disable his five-year-old grandson, Mustapha Kanu.
During his plea in mitigation, Jalloh appealed to both his daughter and the young victim for forgiveness, expressing deep remorse for his actions. He told the court that he sincerely regretted the incident and would carry that regret for the rest of his life.
The convict further pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, maintaining that his actions were not intentional.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Semion Allieu stated that he had carefully considered the plea in mitigation. However, he emphasised that the gravity of the offence required a firm response, noting that the court must set a strong precedent to deter others from engaging in such inhumane conduct.
In handing down the sentence, the judge underscored the need to protect vulnerable members of society, particularly children.
Following the judgment, State Prosecutor Yusuf Issa Sesay called on the relevant authorities to ensure that the child involved in the case is not neglected after the conclusion of the proceedings.
He also commended the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs for their significant roles throughout the judicial process.
