Justice Komba Kamanda of the High Court of Freetown on Tuesday 28 November 2017 sentenced Aruna Moray Quee to ten years imprisonment at the Male Correctional Centre for sexually penetrating an eight year-old child.
Between the 1 July 2017 and the 7 August 2017, the convict was alleged to have engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a child below the age of 18-years in Freetown. He was charged with Sexual Penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offence Act No.12 of 2012.
Prior to the sentencing, he pleaded guilty to the charge and appealed to the judge to temper justice with mercy. According to the State Counsel A.J.M. Bockarie, “Since the accused has pleaded guilty to the offence, he must be sentenced accordingly and the maximum period for such offence is 15-years. Take into consideration the age of the victim and we must send out message to the public,” Bockarie said.
The Defence Counsel O.C. Coker said, “Since the convict did not waste the court’s time, I am pleading for you to tamper justice with mercy.”
According to Justice Komba Kamanda, “The maximum imprisonment for such offence is 15-years and taking into consideration age of the victim I hereby sentence you to 10-years imprisonment at the Freetown Male Correctional Centre.
MJB/28/11/17
By Mohamed J. Bah
Wednesday November 29, 2017.