The Special Criminal Court in Banjul Friday convicted and sentenced one Ousman Baldeh, a resident of Sanchaba Touba, to 20 years mandatory jail term for the offence of rape.
Justice Emmanuel Nkea, in delivering his judgment, adduced that the prosecution paraded nine witnesses and tendered five exhibits in support of their case, while the convicted person testified as a lone witness and tendered one exhibit.
The judge stated that the convicted person in his cautionary statement said when he went into his room to get money to buy a detergent, not knowing the victim was in his room, and he stumbled against the victim and the victim fell down, and cried.
Justice Nkea added that PW4, who was an eyewitness to the scene, told the court that he found the convicted person on the victim sexually assaulting the victim.
The judge said he believed PW4 had found the convicted person on the victim, and held that the convicted person had carnal knowledge of the victim, as the victim was too young to give her consent.
“The prosecution had proven its case against the convicted person,” the judge said.
In passing sentence, the judge stated that this sentence would serve as a deterrent and a protection for other young girls, especially those who are very young.
“The actions of the convicted person warrant him to serve a long term behind bars. I will sentence the convicted person to 20 years, which will commence from his date of arrest,” he stated.
