The presiding judge at the Sexual Offences Model Court in Freetown Justice Bawoh has Imposes 160- Years Imprisonment to two men for violently sexually penetrating a 13-year-old schoolgirl.
Thirty-one-old Karim Swarray, a Pegapak Seller, Abdul Koroma, 37, a messenger, were sentenced to 100 years and 60 years in prison, respectfully.
The culprits Karim Swarray and Abdul Koroma were before the court on a four count indictment of Sexual Penetration committed against a 13-year-old pupil.
It was alleged that Karim (1st accused) on the 14th and between the 15th and the 21st of August 2021, in Freetown engaged in an act of sexual penetration with the victim, while the 2rd accused, Abdul Koroma was also alleged to have, on the 21st and 22nd day of August 2021, in Freetown, engaged in an act of Sexual Penetration with the victim.
When they were arraigned, both pleaded not guilty.
During the trial, the State Prosecutor E. T. Jalloh made an application for a trial by judge alone which was granted by Justice Bawoh.
The prosecutor led in seven witnesses in support of her case.
In her statement to the police, the 13-year-old victim at the time (now 14 years) said she was held against her wish by the second accused Karim Swarray for a week in his house where he sexually penetrated her, and later took her to the house of the second accused Abdul Koroma who equally penetrated her in a violent manner.
The victim further stated that she was tied to the chair in Karim Swaray’s room, and he (Karim) was smoking K2 (Kush) and emitting the smoking on my face.
She added that her my mouth was stuffed with clothes and violently penetrated.
At the close of the Prosecution’s case, both accused persons relied on their statement to the police.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Bawoh noted that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt for which the accused persons were found guilty.
In their allocutus, both the convicts pleaded for mercy.
“In respect of counts one and two, convict Karim Swarray is sentenced to 100 years imprisonment, 50 years for each count with both counts to run concurrently, and With regards to count 3 and 4, convict Abdul Koroma was sentenced to 60 years’ imprisonment, 30 years for each count with the sentence to run concurrently,” he ruled.
By Alimatu Jalloh