By: Isatou Sarr
One Bakary Jatta Tuesday appeared before Brikama Magistrates’ Court charged with two counts of rape and “unnatural offences” before being sent to Remand Wing of Mile Two Central Prison.
Appearing before Magistrate Darboe, Jatta was charged with the first count which was “unnatural offences” contrary to Section 122(1) (a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 2025. The particulars of offence alleged that, Bakary Jatta on September 15th, 2026 at Brikama, West Coast Region, engaged in a sexual act with a 12-year-old child against the order of nature, thereby committing an offence.
On the second count, Jatta was charged with rape contrary to Section 3(1) (a) of the Sexual Offences Act. According to the particulars of offence, Bakary Jatta on September 15th, 2026 at Brikama, intentionally, under coercive circumstances engaged in a sexual act with a 12-year-old child, thereby committed an offence.
The charges were read and interpreted to the accused and he pleaded guilty to the offence.
The prosecuting officer for the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sgt M.J Sallah, applied to narrate facts and the presiding magistrate granted.
Sgt Sallah narrated the facts saying: on September 15th, 2026 at Brikama Sanneh-Kunda, the victim who was a 12-year-old boy was sitting on a fence while watching his mates playing football, the accused who was known on the street as “Ratty” asked the boy to follow him somewhere and the boy refused. But Ratty insisted and grabbed the victim by the arms and put him on his bicycle and took him to an uncompleted building.
The accused then told the boy to lay on the ground and the boy refused, but was forced to the ground and Ratty put his penis in the anus of the boy. The boy later reported the incident to his mother when he got home. The mother then reported the matter to Suba Police Station. The boy was immediately rushed to Brikama Hospital for immediate medical attention.
The accused was then arrested and charged for the offence committed.
The prosecution later applied for an adjournment to tender the medical report from the doctor and the case was adjourned to 30th, September 2026.