By: Cecilia E.L Mendy
A 24-year-old man appeared before the Banjul High Court on Monday charged with raping a 10-year-old girl. The accused pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
The prosecution was represented by Counsel M. Sarr, while Counsel J. Jeng was defending the accused.
The accused, whose name has been withheld, is charged under Count 1 with rape contrary to Section 3 (1)(a) and punishable under Section 4 (1)(a)(iii)(bb) of the Sexual Offences Act, 2013.
The offence allegedly occurred on 12 October 2025 at Abuko, within the Kanifing Municipality, where the accused was alleged to have engaged in a sexual act with a 10-year-old girl, referred to in court as Child A.
During proceedings, Counsel M. Sarr raised concerns regarding the protection of the minor’s identity. Justice Ebrima Jaiteh emphasized that, given the victim is a 10-year-old child, it is both a legal and moral duty to protect her identity from public disclosure.
The court highlights that safeguarding the child’s identity ensures her privacy, dignity, and psychological well-being, while also preventing potential stigma or long-term social harm. In doing so, the court follows international child protection standards, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which requires that a child’s best interests be a primary consideration in legal matters.
To prevent unnecessary exposure, the court ordered that the victim’s name and identifying details shall not appear in any judgment or public record. The child will be referred to as “Child A” in all proceedings. The court also instructed all parties, counsel, and the media to ensure that no information revealing the child’s identity is published.
The case has been adjourned to 23 March 2026 for the hearing of the first prosecution witness (Pw1).