The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Sidiq Asemota
1 June 2011
Justice Joseph Enwa Ikpala of the Special Criminal Court in Banjul, Tuesday, 31st of May 2011 convicted and sentenced one Karim Camara to serve 14 years imprisonment after he was found guilty of the offence of rape.
The convict was alleged to have unlawfully had carnal knowledge of a seven-year-old girl without her consent on or about the 25th of May, 2009 at Latrikunda German in the Kanifing Municipality.
The convict pleaded not guilty to the charge and the prosecution led by the DPP, Mikailu Abdullahi called six witnesses in proving its case against the accused and tendered exhibits including the cautionary and voluntary statements of the accused, as well as the medical examination reports conducted on the said victim.
The victim in her evidence adduced that on the day of the alleged incident, at about 8:00pm; she left home to take food from her mother who was selling around the Fajara Car Park. She further adduced that on her way back, the accused accosted her and pushed her into the tailoring shop where he (the accused) works, forced her to lie down on the mat, put a piece of cloth in her mouth and forcefully had sex with her. The accused who could not call any witness in his defence denied the charge and also denied knowing the victim.
Delivering judgment, the presiding judge disclosed that the prosecution proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt that the accused did commit the said offence. The judge pointed out that Exhibit A and B, i.e. the cautionary and voluntary statements are confessional and the medical reports indicated that the victim had laceration from the posterior vaginal wall extending to the anal region, with posterior perinea tear laceration, with bleeding from the U/V with blood clots and a destruction of the victim’s hymen.
Justice Joseph Enwa Ikpala stated that the accused should be kept away from decent people so that girls would enjoy their freedom. The accused was then sentenced accordingly.
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