Presiding at the Sexual Offences Model Court at Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown, Justice Sulaiman Bah has remanded Francis Sidique at the Male Correctional Centre for penetrating a 13 year old girl. According to the particulars of offence, sometime in 2020 the accused sexually abused the 13 year old girl, who happens to be the daughter of one of his tenants in Freetown. He was charged with one count of sexual penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offence Act of 2012, as repealed and replaced by Section 4 of the Sexual Offence Amendment Act of 2019, by the Sierra Leone Police.
In her statement to the police, the victim (name withheld) said after the accused sexually penetrated her, he gave her Le 400,000 and threatened her not to disclose what happened to anybody, he called it a secret. Justice Bah remanded the accused at the Male Correctional Centre at Pademba Road and adjourned the matter to 24th August 2020, when witnesses will start testifying.
The matter is being prosecuted by Albert Kargbo. MJB/13/08/2020
By Mohamed J. Bah