Before the court proceeded with the trial of accused, Barrister Y I Sesay who represented the State, applied for the accused to be tried by Judge alone, rather than trial by Judge and Jury.
The application was pursuant to Section (144) Sub Section (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act N0.32 of 1965, of the laws of Sierra Leone.
Justice Kamanda granted the application, following which, the 1st persecution witness, Detective Sgt Hassan Kargbo commenced testimony in respect of the matter.
He told the court that his is attached to the Family Support Unit (FSU) of the Eastern Police Division, and recognized the accused person in the dock.
Detective Sgt Kargbo further testified that he also recalled 24 May 2016, while he was on duty at the station, when an alleged case of sexual penetration was reported against the accused by Chief Ya-Almamy Kamara.
The witness also explained that he issued Police Medical Request Form to the victim (name withheld) for examination and treatment at the Rainbow Centre, within the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital on Fourah Bay Road in the east part of Freetown.
“I later obtained statement from the victim together with the complainant separately, before obtaining voluntary caution statement from the accused, by observing the Judges rule,” the witness told court.
He disclosed that he, together with Detective Sgt Bangura A D of the same unit, visited the scene of the alleged crime at the Regent Road Gust House where the accused was apprehended and detained at the Eastern Police Division, before he was charged to court.
The voluntary caution statement, including that of the charge statement of the accused were tendered in evidence.
Justice Komba Kamanda adjourned the matter to 12 October 2017.
