3 Docked For Inserting Iron Rod Into Teenager’s Private Part

Three accused persons from Bonthe District, Tawakatu Conteh, Lansana Kailia and Mohamed Ishmael Tao alias ‘Maada’ were remanded at the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre by Justice Komba Kamanda, presided at the Sexual Offense Model Court for allegedly inserting an iron rod into the vagina of a 17-year-old girl.

The accused persons were before the court on one court of aggravated sexual assault contrary to the Laws of Sierra Leone.

According to the indictment, the accused persons on an unknown date between 16^th November 2021 and 19^th November 2021 Nyandehum high way in the Yawbeko Chiefdom, Bonthe district, engage in an act of aggravation sexual violence by inserting and iron road into a woman vagina after raping her. When the charge was put into the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty to the offence charge.

Before the commencement of the matter, State counsel Yusif I. Sesay made an application for the matter to be tired by judge alone instead of judge and jurors. After his application, defense counsel for the 3^rd accused, M.M Bawoh did not object to the application and Justice Komba granted the application.

Led in evidence by State Counsel, Yusif Isaac Sesay, first prosecution witness, Detective Sergeant 9775 Alhassan Teddy Turay attached to the Family Support Unit at Criminal Investigation Department headquarters, said he recognized the accused persons and also knows the complainant.

He said on Monday 6^th December 2021, he was on duty at the said station when he received a case and inquiry file from Bo Police Station containing 16 statements, 4 exhibits together with the 1^st and 2^nd accused persons.

He added that the matter was later allocated to him for further investigations. He said according to file, the complainant arrived at the Bo Police Station and reported a case of sexual penetration on behalf of the victim for sexual penetration by the 1^st and 2^nd accused persons together with 4 others.

He furthered, on the 6^th December 2021, a police medical request from was issued to the victim for treatment at the Rainbo Centre and the endorse medical form was later returned to the station, adding that on the 5^th and 12^th December 2021, the 1^st and 2^nd accused persons were questioned and cautioned in Mende separately by Detective Inspector Samura who signed the statements as recorded.

He said on the 4^th December 2021, one Lornal Blor, chairman of Yewbeko Descendant Association informed the police that he was informed by the Paramount Chief that the 3^rd accused has been arrested and detained at the Bo Police Station, furthering that the was later brought to CID headquarters on the following day for further investigation.

The witness continued that on the 11^th December 2021, he together with a combined team from the Family Support Unit, officers from CID and Scene of Crime Officer visited the alleged scene of crime at Nyandehun highway in the Yawbeko Chiefdom, Bonthe District. He said on the 14^th December 2021, identification parade was conducted including 11 suspects in police custody and the victim was called to identify the person who did the said act on her, wherein she identified the 3^rd accused.

A-Z Newspaper reports that, after given his testimony, defense counsel asked for a short date for him to have proper conference with the 3^rd accused before being cross examined by the witness. However, Justice Kamanda upheld his application and adjourned the matter to Tuesday 15^th March 2022.