By: Nicholas Bass
Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of Banjul High Court on Tuesday sentenced one Essa Jobe for raping his 14-year-old sister-in-law (name withheld) at Coastal Road, Green House in June 2021.
According to the charge sheet before the court, the victim (name withheld) was taken on a trip by the convict, Essa, and upon their arrival at Green House, he took the victim behind an old abandoned building and the accused ”forcefully lured” victim into the building and rape her.
To establish its case against Essa, the state presented six witnesses who gave testimonies and presented documents whilst the defense called only one witness and presented the convict’s testimony.
The trial Judge, Justice Jaiteh recalled that the victim narrated that after the assault by the convict Essa, she returned home and bravely informed her mother and sister about what happened, adding that the family then ”devised ” a plan to confront Essa (convict), invited him to their home by falsely claiming that his wife was sick and needed his assistance.
”When Essa arrived, he noticed that something was wrong. Upon seeing the victim’s mother, he became suspicious and attempted to escape by jumping over the fence.
However, the police were already alerted by the victim’s family, and they were nearby and quickly pursued him, ultimately apprehended him, and took him to the police station, where he was charged and detained”, Justice Jaiteh said.
Essa, however, under cross-examination denied running from the police, stating that he went to a shop to purchase mobile phone credit which, when he exited the store, he unexpectedly encountered a taxi with drug squad officers which led to his arrest.
Justice Jaiteh in his judgment said that the convict Essa Jobe brutally raped his wife’s sister, stating that the court cannot overlook such an ”egregious betrayal of trust’‘and he emphasized that such was a moral depravity inherent in such vile action.
”Under section 4(1) of the Sexual Offenses Act, and considering the disturbing and coercive circumstances surrounding this heinous attack on innocent victims, the court must impose a sentence that reflects the seriousness of the offense. The safety and dignity of individuals within our society must be upheld and actions that egregiously violate these fundamental principles will face the harshest penalties ”, Justice Jaiteh said.
He further stated that the sentence of Essa will not only serve as a measure of justice for the victim but also as a powerful and unwavering message to ”all would-be rapists”.
He disclosed that such appalling behaviour will not be tolerated as he stressed that the law will respond decisively to protect the vulnerable, and enforce accountability in ensuring that those who commit such ”atrocious acts face the full weight of the consequences of their actions”.
However, I have considered that the convict is a first-time offender and for this reason, I shall not impose the sentence of life imprisonment and invoke section 29(2) of the Criminal Code. Therefore, I hereby impose a sentence of twenty (20) years of imprisonment on the convict, Essa Jobe which shall commence the day he was first taken into custody, Justice Jaiteh ruled.
