Teacher Remanded For Sexual Penetration Of Pupil

By Fatima Sesay

Musa Turay, a former teacher at St. Joseph’s Secondary School, has been remanded again in prison by Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens of  the Sexual Offences Court No. 7 on Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown The accused faces two count charges of sexual penetration of a child contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2012 (as amended by the 2019 Sexual Offences Amendment Act), and sexual abuse by a person in a position of trust, under Section 21 (1) (a) of the same Act. According to the indictment, the alleged offences took place between February 1 and March 14, 2024, in Freetown. The Prosecution claims that during this period, Turay engaged in an act of sexual penetration with a child. It was further alleged that the accused, being a  teacher in a position of trust, committed the offence against the victim. Upon hearing the charges, Turay pleaded not guilty. During the proceedings, the State Prosecutor, Musa Pious Sesay Jr. Esq. questioned a witness about the accused’s teaching role at St. Joseph’s Secondary School, to which the witness confirmed that Turay was an active teacher there until December 2023. The witness also affirmed that JSS 1 & 2 were some of the classes he taught, and that the alleged victim was one of his students. The prosecution further suggested to the witness that Turay had communicated with the victim outside school hours. The witness denied any private conversations beyond the classroom. When confronted with a specific telephone number, 078486465, the witness acknowledged it belonged to Turay. The prosecutor then indicated that the Cyber Unit had a report linking the accused to calls made to the victim, prompting him to request a brief adjournment to verify if the report had been tendered as evidence. Defense Counsel C. Campbell represented the accused. However, Justice Stevens denied bail, ordering that Turay be remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The case was adjourned to March 5th 2025.