Gbense Chiefdom, Kono – 27 June 2026: In a harrowing case that has shocked Sierra Leone, the Resident High Court Judge in Kono, Honourable Justice Santigie Ibrahim Sorie Bangura, has sentenced 20-year-old Amos Aiah Daniel to life imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a 2-year-old child, leading to her death.
The conviction marks one of the toughest sentences delivered under Sierra Leone’s Sexual Offences Act, underscoring the judiciary’s uncompromising stance against sexual violence, particularly crimes against children.
Case Details
- Charges: Sexual Penetration of a Child, Meeting a Child for Sexual Purposes, and Sexual Touching.
- Incident: On 4 March 2026, in Kono, the victim died following the assault.
- Prosecution: State Counsel Charles Foday Sesay highlighted the convict’s prior criminal record and ongoing trial for another felonious offence.
- Defence: Counsel Alpha Osman Kamara urged leniency, citing the guilty plea and cooperation during investigations.
Justice Bangura described the act as “despicable and unimaginable,” stressing that the convict robbed the nation of a child who could have grown to become “a President, a First Lady, a Judge, a Lawyer, a Doctor, a Nurse, or an Accountant.” He ruled that the severity of the crime warranted the harshest punishment.
Sentencing
- Count One: Life Imprisonment
- Count Two: 10 Years Imprisonment
- Count Three: 10 Years Imprisonment Sentences to run concurrently.
The ruling is seen as a landmark in Sierra Leone’s fight against sexual violence, reinforcing the judiciary’s commitment to protecting children and ensuring justice for victims of heinous crimes.