By Mabinty M. Kamara
The opposition Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) has called for the release on bail of its leader and chairman, Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, who has been in police custody for alleged sexual penetration of a minor.
Mr Mansaray, a former Presidential contender, in the 2018 general elections, was detained by police at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Freetown when he honored an invitation for questioning about a case of an alleged sexual penetration of a 15 year old girl in Kono District.
The party, in its statement issued on Thursday, noted that in as much as they were aware of the fact that the allegations against their leader was serious, they noted the right of their leader to be granted bail as stated by the Constitution of Sierra Leone.
“While we recognize that the allegation against our leader is serious under the laws of Sierra Leone, however, Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, like any other Sierra Leonean, should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. This presumption of innocence is one of the fundamental principles that underpins our democracy and are firmly embedded in the 1991 Constitution which is the supreme law of the land,” the statement reads in part.
It goes on: “Presuming Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray innocent until proven guilty means he has a further right to be granted bail by the police and not to be detained unnecessarily during pre-trial.”
The Director of Crimes, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Brima Jah, in a media update on Monday 3rd August, said that four people, including the ADP leader, the husband and wife with whom the girl was staying, as well the manager of a hotel where one of the alleged sexual penetration took place, were in detention because the police discovered that the girl was taking to the hospital to be administered with contraceptive.
AIG Jah noted that the victim had already testified to the police about her encounter with Mansaray, which revealed that she was conversant with his private dwellings, including his resident in Freetown.
“A team of FSU officer left here for Koidu, they were led by the victim, where she alleged to have been penetrated by Kamarainba Mansaray. Relevant statements were recorded. She again led them to different locations where they went to and later came to Freetown where she again led them to the resident here in Freetown, where again they had the affair,” Jah narrated.
“He went on: “She describe first before they enter the items placed in the parlor and that seem to be clearly in line with her description. And when they got to the parlor, before they entered the bed room, she equally explained the position of the toilet and other items in the bed room and it seem to have quiet tallied with her description,” he said.
He added that the girl is now under the protection of Don Bosco to prevent interference with her.
“A case of this nature at times warrants intimidation and so for her protection, she is now in the custody of Don Bosco and police is making temporary care for protection and also to prevent interference and intimidation of the victim,” he said.
Mansaray has been in detention since July 21st.
The ADP called on other political parties and civil society organizations to stand not with their leader but to protect the constitution of Sierra Leone.
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