By Zainab Koroma
A High Court in eastern Sierra Leone has sentenced a 20-year-old man to life imprisonment after convicting him of sexually assaulting a two-year-old girl, an attack that resulted in the child’s death, the country’s judiciary said on Friday.
Resident High Court Judge in Kono, Honourable Justice Santigie Ibrahim Sorie Bangura, handed the life sentence to Amos Aiah Daniel during proceedings held at the High Court in Kono District.
According to the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, Daniel was found guilty of sexually assaulting the toddler, whose injuries led to her death. The court imposed a life sentence, reflecting the gravity of the offence.
The judiciary announced the verdict in a statement issued through its Communications and Public Affairs Unit but did not immediately provide further details about the circumstances of the crime or when the offence occurred.
The case has drawn attention to the persistent problem of sexual and gender-based violence in Sierra Leone, where child abuse cases continue to raise concern despite tougher laws and increased public awareness campaigns.
Authorities have in recent years pledged to strengthen the prosecution of sexual offences following sustained pressure from civil society organisations and child rights advocates to improve justice for victims and deter offenders.
