Court Convicts Man After Guilty Plea in Sexual Assault of Minor Case

A principal magistrate has convicted Ansumana Gassama of sexually assaulting a minor after he pleaded guilty to a charge of committing an unlawful sexual act under Section 122(1)(a) of the Criminal Offences Act 2025.

Principal Magistrate I. Sallah M’bai delivered the conviction after Gassama admitted the charge and accepted the prosecution’s account of events without objection. Sentencing has been adjourned until 18 August 2026, and the accused remains in custody at Mile Two Prisons.

According to the prosecution, led by Inspector Baba Jallow, the offence occurred on 23 July 2026 in Bakau, Kanifing Municipality. The court heard that Gassama lured the child to his residence, where he sexually assaulted the minor.

The child later reported the incident to his parents after sustaining injuries that required urgent medical attention. The matter was subsequently reported to the Bakau New Town Police Station, and the victim was taken to Kanifing Hospital for treatment. Police arrested Gassama shortly afterward.

The prosecution told the court that during police questioning, Gassama voluntarily admitted to the offence. His voluntary and cautionary statements were recorded in the presence of an independent witness and signed by both the witness and the accused.

Investigators also visited the scene, photographed the location, and recovered physical evidence. Medical examinations were conducted by Dr. Richard A. Sannoh, who prepared two medical certificates documenting the victim’s injuries. The prosecution additionally tendered the child’s birth certificate to establish the victim’s age.

The court admitted the medical reports, the accused’s voluntary and cautionary statements, photographs from the scene, and the victim’s birth certificate into evidence after Gassama raised no objection to their admissibility.

During the proceedings, Gassama acknowledged responsibility for the offence but told the court: “I did it, but it was not my intention.”

When Principal Magistrate M’bai sought clarification, the accused stated that he had committed the act but had never thought he would do so. Asked whether he was of sound mind at the time of the offence, he replied that he was. He also confirmed that he wished to maintain his guilty plea.

In her ruling, Magistrate M’bai said she had carefully considered the evidence and the applicable law before concluding that the prosecution had established all the elements of the offence.

She held that the accused’s assertion that the act was “not my intention” amounted to an expression of remorse rather than a legal defence.

“Following the accused’s admission of guilt and no objection towards the evidence brought before the court, I have deemed him liable for conviction,” Magistrate M’bai said.

She added that the wording of Section 122(1)(a) was clear and that the facts presented fully supported the charge before formally convicting Gassama.

The court ordered that Gassama remain in custody pending mitigation and sentencing, with the matter adjourned to 18 August 2026 for sentencing.