By Sering Mass Jallow and Dawda Jallow
The Kanifing Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday convicted and sentenced Ansumana Gassama to seven years’ imprisonment and ordered him to pay D500,000 in compensation to a 10-year-old victim in a rape case.
Principal Magistrate Sallah M’bai presided over the proceedings.
Gassama was convicted on a charge of unnatural offences contrary to Section 122(1)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act 2025.
During mitigation, Gassama pleaded for leniency, describing the incident as a mistake and assuring the court that he would not engage in similar conduct if given a second chance.
Inspector CB Jallow, representing the Inspector General of Police, told the court that Gassama was a first-time offender with no previous conviction.
However, the prosecutor stressed the seriousness of the offence and its impact on the 10-year-old victim, whose identity is being withheld for legal and ethical reasons.
The prosecution told the court that the victim sustained serious physical injuries during the incident and that her family had incurred significant expenses for her medical treatment. The prosecution therefore requested that the victim be compensated.
In delivering her sentence, Principal Magistrate M’bai described the offence as particularly serious, emphasizing the age and vulnerability of the victim.
She said a 10-year-old child was extremely vulnerable and required protection and support from parents, caregivers and society.
The magistrate also noted that medical certificates tendered as exhibits indicated that the victim had suffered severe physical pain and injuries as a result of the offence.
In determining the sentence, Magistrate M’bai said she had considered the circumstances of the case, the age and vulnerability of the victim, the medical evidence and the injuries suffered.
She also took into account mitigating factors, including the accused’s age, first-offender status, guilty plea, cooperation and acceptance of the facts, which she said had saved judicial time and expedited the proceedings.
The court consequently sentenced Gassama to seven years’ imprisonment and ordered him to pay D500,000 in compensation to the victim.
The court further ordered that, in default of payment, Gassama would serve an additional one-year term of imprisonment.