Justice Banks-Kamara Imprisons 10
Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications Unit, Luawa Chiefdom, Kailahun town: The Resident Judge in Kailahun District, Justice Francis Banks-Kamara has imprisoned ten (10) accused persons for sexual penetration and its related offences in Kailahun District, Eastern Sierra Leone.
The convicts were accused of sexual penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012, Act No. 12 of 2012 as repealed and replaced by Section 4 (a) (i) of the Sexual Offences amendment Act of 2019, Act No. 8 of 2019.
The particulars of offences revealed that in 2020 on diverse dates in Kailahun District, the 10 convicted persons sexually penetrated children below the age of 18 years.
Appearing before the Hon. Justice, the accused pleaded guilty and begged for mercy.
Delivering the various sentences, Justice Banks-Kamara considered that the accused persons didn’t waste the Court’s time and convicted them thus:
Samuel Sahr, Aruna Mansaray, Samuel Morie and Mustapha Saffa Lansana were sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. Ensah Aruna who was charged with sexual penetration and incest was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment and Musa Lahai who was charged with sexual penetration, meeting a child for sexual purpose and assault occasioning actual bodily harm sentenced to 23 years imprisonment. Bockarie Tamba and Alhaji Kondeh were sentenced to 3 years imprisonment for sexual touching. Foday Turay was sentenced to 14 years whilst Sorbah Aruna was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
In another development, two of the other sexual penetration cases have been adjourned to 16th February, 2021 for sentence. Amara Sheki who was also accused of sexual penetration was acquitted and discharged.