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The High Court in Kono, presided by the Resident Judge Hon. Justice Santigie Ibrahim Sorie Bangura, has sentenced one James Seray (not his real name) to 15 years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of sexually penetrating a 17-year-old girl.
The convict was standing trial before the court on one count charge of Sexual Penetration of a child contrary to Section 19 of the sexual offences Act 2012, Act No 12 of 2012, as repealed and replaced by Section 4 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act. 2019 Act No. 8 of 2019.
According to the indictment, the convict in October 2024, at Kono district in the Eastern Province, did engage in an act of sexual penetration with a girl child below the age of 18, to wit, 17 years.
The prosecution, led by C. I. Sesay, in proving their case against the convict, called 4 witnesses who testified in court and were cross-examined by defence counsel A.O. Kamara.
State counsel C.F. Sesay, in his address, told the court that the provision under which the defendant was convicted provides for a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment.
The convict in his Allocutus pleaded with the judge for mercy. Lawyer A.Ο Kamara, in his plea mitigation on behalf of the convict, said he is a first-time offender and a young man with a chance and opportunity to reform himself.
He added that the convict is now remorseful of his conduct and therefore entreated the court to temper justice with mercy, with a minimum punishment, so he will have the opportunity to come back to society and try to live a better life.
Justice Bangura, in his sentencing remarks, said he has taken note of the fact that the convict has been in a love relationship with the victim and that their sexual conduct was consensual.
“However, it is unfortunate for him that the law under which he is convicted is a strict liability provision precluding consent from being used as an excuse for having sexual intercourse with the child because the law seeks to protect minors from sexual exploitation,” he stated.
In conclusion, said. “In view of these considerations, I hereby sentence the convict herein to fifteen (15) years imprisonment.”
