Father Denies Daughter in Court After Impregnating Her

The accused person, Mohamed Conteh who a mechanic residing at Bamoi Luuma Kambia District in the Northern part of Sierra Leone appeared before Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah-Stevens at Sexual Offences Model Court in Freetown at the Law Court Buildings to answer to an alleged case of incest.

The particulars of offense state that the accused person between the 1st January, 2017 and the 31st December, 2017 and the 1st August, 2020 and the 31st August, 2020 engaged in sexual intercourse with a child.

State Prosecutor Musa P.Sesay said the accused person Mohamed Conteh is charged with two counts indictment of incest contrary to section 10(1) of the Sexually Offense Act 2012 and it is in accordance with section 42 of the Sexual Offences Act which was done by the Minister of Justice.

State Prosecutor added that the prosecution led two witnesses the victim and formal witness who produced two certificate one of pregnancy and the other of physical bruises and they as prosecution relies on the evidences and the surrounding circumstances of the pregnancy.

After the court registrar put the three objections to the accused person, he relied to testify on oath and to talk to the court.

Testifying in court First Defense Witness (DW1) Mohamed Conteh said he knew the victim as his child and he did not penetrate the victim. Defense Witness continues to say he recalled between the 1st January, the 31st December, 2017 and 1st August and the 31st August, 2020.

DW1 say he was evicted at Kabbasa Lodge on the 15th August, 2015 and later he was transferred to Babadorie to one of his friend who provides him with two bed rooms where the victim, her elder sister and younger brother stayed.

He said he has three children Mariana Conteh, Aminata Conteh and Regina Conteh.

The accused person said the victim is not his biology daughter. DW1 continues to say he encountered with the victim at the age five months after her mother came with her and throw her in his parlor, where his wife had to inform him about the incident.

He continues to say the victim mother was a girl friend to him in 2002 and after she abandoned him, she ran away and he doesn’t have any documents to show that she is my daughter.

DW1 said he came to work and his eldest child told him that the victim is behaving abnormally.

He continues that he never engaged in sexual intercourse with the victim.

He said between the 1st August to the 31st August, 2020 he was at Flamingo guest house.

DW1 said he took the victim to the Kambia Government Hospital and that is the time I knew that she is pregnant in March, 2020.

Under cross examination the State Prosecutor Musa P. Sesay asked the witness if the lady who came with the victim was his girlfriend.

Witness said yes. The State Prosecutor asked him why the girlfriend Isata Jalloh came and left the victim. State Counsel asked him if the girlfriend is still alive. Yes.

When do you recognize the victim as a child? He said at the age 11 but the she was carrying another name.

State Prosecutor asked the witness if he was arrested by the by an OSD officer. Witness said a police officer came and advised him to take her to the hospital.

Under Re-Examination the Defense Counsel C.Camobell asked the witness what was the surname she was carrying. Witness said the victim was using Johnson.

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However, Justice Momoh Jah-Stevens adjourned the matter to the 1st November, 2021.