Rape case set for address

The rape case involving one Bakary Sambou has been adjourned for address at the Special Criminal Court in Banjul before Justice Emmanuel Nkea.

This followed the cross-examination of the accused, Bakary Sambou.

Under cross-examination, the accused told the court he had never disciplined a child who was not his own, admitting that the victim was under his care after the death of her mother.

He adduced that he only advised the victim but never assaulted her, as she was not her biological daughter.

Sambou explained that he did not know any of the relatives of his wife, except one person, denying ever knowing that the victim was pregnant.

DW1 said: “It was my relatives who informed me that the victim is pregnant, but I did not know when and where she became pregnant.”

The witness further denied that he was left home alone with the victim, because every day he would go to work, adding that it was at the police station he got to know the victim was pregnant.

“I was informed by the police that I raped the victim. I am the only person who is speaking the truth since the beginning of this trial. Even my wife lied against me when she said the victim does not go out. The victim used to go out and I have admonished her several times,” said the accused person.

At that juncture, the case was adjourned till 23 June 2013, for address.