Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay has on Wednesday19th August 2020 sentenced Mohamed Deen to 12 years imprisonment for sexually penetrating a 13 year old girl. Prior to the sentencing, the particulars of offence stated that between June and August 2017, the accused had sexual intercourse with an underage girl in Freetown. He was charged with one count of sexual penetration of a child contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual offences Act of 2012 by the police. The prosecution, led by Jesse Tucker, called three witnesses to prove its case: the victim, the investigating officer and the medical doctor.
According to Justice Sesay, the prosecution must prove its case beyond reasonable doubt on key elements, including: showing that the victim is underage, that the accused must have had the intention to commit the act, and the act must have been committed by the accused, among others. Reading the victim’s testimony, the judge said on the date in question the victim went to visit the accused, who ordered her to undress, adding that accused undressed after she did, and sexually penetrated her.
The victim also disclosed having had multiple sexual intercourse with the accused, who she refers to as her boyfriend. According to Dr Olabisi Claudius Cole of Rainbo Centre, the victim’s hymen was completely ruptured, with whitish substance. Having gone through all the evidence, Justice Sesay said the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, and therefore found the accused guilty of the offence.
Before he was sentenced, the accused’s lawyer from Legal Aid Board, Cecilia Tucker, canvassed the judge to temper justice with mercy on him, describing him as a family man with two children and a wife. Justice Sesay, having considered both counsels’ pleas and taking the victim’s age into consideration, sentenced the convict to 12 years imprisonment at the Male Correctional Centre at Pademba Road.
By Mohamed J. Bah