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The resident High Court Judge of Kailahun District, Hon. Justice Francis Banks-Kamara who’s currently presiding over cases at Koindu Town, Kissy Teng Chiefdom, Kailahun District in the ongoing High Court Circuit sittings has sentenced 25-year-old Farmer, Thomas Othello to 14 years imprisonment for sexual penetration.
Accused Othello was before the court on a one count indictment of Sexual Penetration contrary to section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2012, Act No. 12 of 2012, as repealed and replaced by Section 4 (a) (iii) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019, Act No. 8 of 2019.
He was alleged to have on the 7th January 2022 at Bayama Lela Town, Kissy-Teng Chiefdom Kailahun District in the Eastern Province of the Country, engaged in an act of Sexual Penetration with an 8-year-old Marian Davies (not real name).
After his arraignment, Othello who was a neighbor to the victim, pleaded guilty of the offence charged.
Immediately after his plea, State Prosecutor Patrick Daniel Mansaray informed the court that the convict is said to have sexually penetrated two other girls before the third for which he was eventually charged.
In his allocutus, the convict pleaded for mercy, saying he lost his parents to Ebola.
Upon his guilty plea, Hon. Justice Francis Banks-Kamara sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment.
Similarly, Hon. Justice Banks-Kamara also sentenced 18-year-old Peter Emmanuel to 6 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of Sexually Penetrating 6-year-old Sarah Kenneth (not real name).
He was before the court on a one count indictment of Sexual Penetration contrary to section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2012, Act No. 12 of 2012, as repealed and replaced by Section 4 (a) (ii) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019, Act No. 8 of 2019.
He was alleged to have on the 29th day of August 2021, at Dia-Town, Kissy-Kama Chiefdom, Kailahun District in the Eastern Province of the country, engaged in an act of sexual penetration with Sarah.
Emmanuel also pleaded guilty upon his arraignment.
According to the victim’s medical report, the Doctor observed that there were no external injuries with a normal vulvar, discovered blood spot in the underwear, no active bleeding and a ruptured hymen.
In his allocutus, the convict pleaded for mercy.
Hon. Justice Banks-Kamara sentenced him to 6 years imprisonment.
The session continues today and tomorrow with over 8 cases before the court ranging from Sexual Penetration to wounding with intent, among others.
The High Court Criminal sessions are funded by the Judiciary with funds from the Government of Sierra Leone, aimed at taking justice closer to the people as well as decongesting Correctional Centers.
