The Charge Sheet further disclosed that the alleged rapist, Abdul Sheriff committed the said offence on 23rd September 2018 at Masantigie village within the Waterloo Rural District of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
He is alleged to have damaged a brick wall of the complainant’s bedroom at twelve midnight on 23rd September 2018, before sneaking into her room and had sex with her without her consent.
The accused person, Abdul Sheriff pleaded not guilty to the three count charges preferred against him. But later, the State Counsel moved an application for the alleged rapist to be tried by Judge alone, instead of Judge and Jury which was granted by the court.
Testifying in court in respect of the alleged rape matter, the second prosecution witness, Inspector, Ulric David Brima stated that he is attached to the Family Support Unit at the Kissy Town Police Post, Waterloo as an investigator.
According to him, he recognized the complainant; the accused person Abdul Sheriff and vividly recalled the incident of 23rd September 2018.
He informed the court that on the day in question, he was on duty at the Kissy Town Police Post at Waterloo, when the Town Chief of Masantigie village, Mohamed Kanu popularly known as Kortoh Yeroh arrested and brought in the accused person to the police post.
He further testified that the Town Chief reported a case of rape against the accused person Abdul Sheriff, on behalf of the complainant, after which the matter was assigned to him for investigation.
Inspector Ulric David Brima further said that he then issued two police medical request forms to the complainant for endorsement by the Rainbo Centre at the Princess Maternity Christian Hospital and the Rokupa Government Hospital.
He went on to state that the endorsed medical forms were later returned to the police post, before obtaining statements from the complainant and the alleged rapist, Abdul Sheriff.
According to the witness, on the date of the alleged rape, he and the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) visited the scene of crime at Masantigie village, where they took photographs which were later developed into pictures.
Inspector Ulric David Brima further told the court that on 2nd October 2018, he obtained additional statement from the accused person in which he confessed to have raped the Complainant, (name withheld).
The said contemporaneous interview statement of the accused person and his additional statements were produced and tendered in evidence.
At this stage of the proceedings, Hon. Justice Ivan Sesay urged the witness, Inspector Ulric David Brima to invite the complainant for her testimony on the next adjourned date, or he would issue a Bench Warrant for her arrest.
The State was represented by Lawyer V. E. A. Kabbia, while the alleged rapist, Abdul Sheriff was defended by Barrister Cecilia Tucker from the Legal Aid Board.
The matter comes up again on Monday 22nd July this year.
in Sierra Leone.