Justice Alhaji Momoh-Jah Stevens has sentenced 32-year- old Charles Bao to 10 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of sexually penetrating a 13- year-old pupil.

Bao was before the court on a-two- count indictment of sexual penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2012, Act No. 12 of 2012, as repealed and replaced by Section 4 (a) (ii) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019, Act No. 8 of 2019.

State prosecutor, Musa Pious Sesay, had alleged that the accused on the June 12, 2021, in Freetown, engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a child.

The convict denied the allegation upon his arraignment and the state prosecutor, Musa Pious Sesay, led in evidence a number of witnesses including the victim in support of his case.
In her evidence, the school going girl admitted knowing of the accused as her neighbour and recalled that on dates between 12th June,2021, the accused entered her room, removed her clothes and penetrated her virgina.

He said the victim narrated that, she refused to tell anyone about what happened between her and the accused person.

Justice Stevens said the accused made a denial statement in his defence, but that there was an eyewitness who saw the accused lying atop the victim, struggling with her.

Justice Stevens said the second prosecution witness upon information received made calls and the police arrested the accused at the house where they were resident.

He said at the close of the prosecution’ case, the accused relied on his statement to the police.

In his allocutus, the convict pleaded for mercy and but sentenced to ten year on counts one and fifteen years of counts two, and the sentences should run concurrently.