AYV News, March 20, 2025
In a case that has provoked both outrage and concern within the community, 38-year-old Musa Turay, a former educator at St. Joseph Secondary School, faces accusations of Sexual Penetration of a minor as he awaits the court’s decision.
Turay is appearing before Hon. Justice Alhaji Momoh-Jah Stevens on charges related to sexual penetration and sexual abuse of a minor. The allegations are presented under two separate cases but pertain to the same offenses, including sexual penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2012, as amended, and sexual abuse by a person in a position of trust contrary to Section 21 (1) (a) of the same act.
The specifics of the offense allege that between February 1 and March 14, 2024, in Freetown, Turay engaged in sexual penetration with a child.
Furthermore, it is alleged that during this same period and at the same location, he, as a person in a position of trust, engaged in sexual penetration with the victim.
During the proceedings, the charges were read and explained to Turay, who pleaded not guilty to both charges. His defense attorney, Claudius Campbell, characterized Turay, a resident of Tengbeh Town and former integrated science teacher, as a committed educator.
The defense emphasised that Turay had served as a form teacher for JSS3T, where the alleged victim was enrolled.
Turay’s defense sought to challenge the allegations, stressing that on March 14, 2024, when confronted by school authorities, he denied the claims. He testified that he had been a teacher at St. Joseph for seventeen years without any previous incidents of a similar nature.
In court, Turay recounted being taken by police officers to the alleged crime scene for investigation purposes. When questioned by state prosecutor Musa Pious Sesay Jr., Turay denied having a formal relationship with the victim, stating that he only assisted students with mathematics during exam preparation.
However, during cross-examination, the prosecutor referenced a prior statement from Turay in which he admitted that the victim had asked for help with her assignments, and that he had instructed her to wait after school to avoid any examination malpractice.
When pressed about the nature of his relationship with the victim, Turay insisted she was simply a pupil.
The prosecutor also inquired whether Turay had been confronted by the acting principal regarding a complaint from the victim; Turay replied no.
Hon. Justice Stevens has now withdrawn both files and is set to deliver his judgment. He has requested that both the defense and prosecution submit their final responses. Turay remains in custody.
