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Gambia:Basse High Court Hears Rape Case
As the government strives to bring justice to every corner of The Gambia, sittings have begun at Basse High Court, which is poised to deal with criminal cases such as murder, rape and manslaughter.
On Wednesday 7th February 2007, in a crowded courtroom, Sarjo Jarra, a Malian national, was arraigned before Justice Monageng for allegedly raping a girl child (name withheld) of Darsilami village in Sandu District.
According to the particulars of offence the accused, Sarjo Jarra unlawfully had carnal knowledge of a girl child on 27th December, 2000 at Darsilami.
Giving evidence before the court, PW3 said he had known the accused for only five days before he (the accused) came to his house saying he liked the father of the complainant for God’s sake. A little later, PW3 stated, the accused informed him that the complainant’s failure to secure a husband was due to the growth of what he termed as bad hair on her body. He added that the accused claimed that if he bathed the complainant with a concoction that he prepared, she would get a husband.
He adduced that the accused said he would do this free of charge since he considered the complainant as his daughter also.
PW3 further testified that during the bath which took place at the accused person’s house, he force himself on the complainant as was proven when the complainant was accompanied there by her mother, Sarka Jarrai, and found the scene of the offence stained with blood. He added that upon interrogation, the alleged confessed the offence.
The defense counsel, Ms Sardia Njie, put it to PW3 that such conversation never took place between him and the accused but that he was just present in court to testify against the accused out of his dear love for his daughter.
In his response, PW3 said: “If I am not telling the truth what is my reason to swear on the Quran?”
Hearing continues.
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