Justice Z.N. Mboob of the High Court
A judge has sentenced a former elementary school teacher to 10 years in prison after convicting him of raping two students, ages 12 and 13, who were in his third-grade class and attended his private tutoring sessions.
Justice Z.N. Mboob of the High Court found Ansumana Ceesay guilty on two counts of rape under the Sexual Offences Act 2013, concluding that prosecutors had proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt. The assaults occurred in 2017 at Mr. Ceesay’s home in Brufut, in the West Coast Region of Gambia.
According to testimony presented in court, Mr. Ceesay, who taught at Abba Bilingual School, lured the two girls to his residence after school under the pretense of having them deliver mangoes. He instructed them to wait while he attended Friday prayers, prosecutors said.
Upon his return, Mr. Ceesay forced the girls into his room and threatened to ensure they failed their examinations if they did not comply with his demands, according to the prosecution. The girls, fearful for their academic futures, complied, and he sexually assaulted them sequentially.
The crimes remained hidden for a year until 2018, when one victim disclosed the abuse to school authorities. When confronted, Mr. Ceesay wrote an apology letter acknowledging his actions, according to court records.
Prosecutors presented testimony from eight witnesses and multiple exhibits, including medical reports documenting physical examinations of both victims and the alleged apology letter addressed to the school principal.
The school’s headmistress testified that she recognized Mr. Ceesay’s handwriting in the apology letter. School officials said that when initially confronted, Mr. Ceesay admitted to the conduct and sought forgiveness, describing his actions as “Satan’s work.”
Mr. Ceesay pleaded not guilty. His wife and a family member testified that they never saw the victims at the house or heard any disturbances that day. The defense argued that Mr. Ceesay wrote the apology letter only after being promised he would not be fired or reported to police, and he denied that his thumbprint appeared on a voluntary police statement.
Justice Mboob ordered a forensic analysis of the thumbprint. Amie Nyassi, a fingerprint expert with the Gambia Police Force, testified that her examination confirmed the prints on the statement matched those of Mr. Ceesay.
In her ruling, Justice Mboob described Mr. Ceesay as someone who exploited his position of authority to target vulnerable students under his care. She noted that the relationship between teacher and student was an aggravating factor, emphasizing that the crimes violated the “bodily integrity, dignity, and psychological well-being” of the victims.
“Rape is a serious and reprehensible offence,” Justice Mboob said in her written decision. “The Court is under a duty to impose a sentence that reflects the seriousness of the offence, serves as a deterrent, and affirms societal condemnation of such conduct.”
While prosecutors emphasized the irreversible harm to the victims, defense attorneys cited mitigating factors, including Mr. Ceesay’s lack of prior criminal history and his role as a father to young children.
Justice Mboob imposed 10-year sentences on each count, to run concurrently, under the Criminal Offences Act 2025. She noted that the sentence was reduced from the maximum permitted under the law, taking into account Mr. Ceesay’s clean criminal record.
Beyond the prison term, Justice Mboob permanently barred Mr. Ceesay from teaching or working with children under 16 upon his release. She also ordered the Ministry of Justice to arrange comprehensive counseling services for the victims to address the long-term psychological effects of the assaults.
Mr. Ceesay was informed of his right to appeal the conviction and sentence.
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