By Henry Kargbo
Hon. Justice Manuela Harding, presiding over cases of the Sexual Offences Model Court in Freetown has on Wednesday 16th November 2022 sentenced twenty years old student, Ibrahim Hassan Gobeh to life imprisonment for sexually penetrating the anus of a three years old boy.
The convict, Gobeh was arraigned before the court on one count indictment of Sexual Penetration, contrary to Section 19 of Sexual Offences Act No.12 of 2012.
According to the particulars of offence, the convict Ibrahim Hassan Gobeh, on 30th May 2022 in Freetown, engaged in an act of sexual penetration of the anus of a male child, Umarr Miracle Hassan Bangura.
In his plea in mitigation, defence lawyer K. Kanu begged the judge to temper justice with mercy because his client is a first time offender and been remorseful for his action, adding that the convict is also a student and he will be a good citizen in feature.
In her judgement, Hon. Justice Manuela Harding informed that court that she noticed that the victim is a three years old lad, whose medical report proved that he was sexually penetrated.
“I will not hesitate to sentence the convict to life imprisonment because the child is under age and a male child and the law didn’t permit such agree with such case”, she said.
Hon. Justice Manuela Harding said she want to send out clear message to others in such acts’ if anyone is found guilty she will not hesitate to do the same’.
