Suspicious Patterns in Bo High Court Rape Case: Is the State Counsel Compromised?

A young woman in Bo, Sierra Leone, has been waiting for justice for three years. Three years since she was brutally gang-raped at age 16. Three years of court appearances, adjournments, and now, inexplicably, a missing case file for the primary accused.

A Timeline of Deliberate Delays?

Monday, April 14, 2025, was supposed to be the day justice would finally prevail. Instead, observers report yet another postponement, with the next hearing scheduled for May 6, 2025. The most disturbing development is that the case file for the first accused, the primary perpetrator of this heinous crime, has mysteriously "disappeared."

This raises a haunting question: Is this a case of prosecutorial incompetence or corruption?

The State Counsel's Suspicious Inaction

The role of the State Counsel in Bo deserves particular scrutiny in this case. As the primary prosecutor representing the state and, by extension, the victim, he has demonstrated a pattern of behavior that raises serious concerns:

1. Failure to safeguard critical evidence: How does the file for the main accused simply vanish after three years of proceedings? Who had custody of these documents, and why weren't digital backups maintained?

2. Unexplained adjournments: Despite all witnesses having testified and all documentation supposedly submitted years ago, the case continues to face "countless adjournments" without substantive legal justification.

3. Lack of prosecutorial vigor: Observers consistently report that the State Counsel has "not shown any effort in his prosecutorial responsibilities." In cases of sexual violence, particularly those involving minors, prosecutors typically demonstrate special diligence and determination.

4. Strategic timing of "missing" evidence: The convenient disappearance of the main accused's file just as the case appeared to be concluding follows a troubling pattern seen in other instances where powerful interests seek to obstruct justice.

Following the Money and Connections

While we cannot make direct accusations without proof, the circumstances warrant investigating potential collusion between the State Counsel and the defense. In Sierra Leone's judicial system, where resources are limited and oversight mechanisms are strained, such irregularities often suggest improper influence.

The victim's family has been told directly that the file is missing. Rather than triggering an immediate investigation into potential evidence tampering or obstruction of justice, this admission has become another excuse for delay.

The Human Cost of Judicial Failures

As eloquently stated in our letter to Justice Banks Kamara, these delays are not merely procedural inconveniences:

For victims of sexual violence, such delays are not merely procedural inconveniences; they constitute a profound denial of justice with devastating, lifelong consequences. Many such victims, broken by both their assaults and the judicial system's failures, end up on the streets, engaging in risky behaviors, such as prostitution, drugs, and crimes, rather than contributing meaningfully to society.

In this case, the victim has shown remarkable resilience, continuing her education despite the trauma. But each postponement,

reopens wounds that are struggling to heal and sends a chilling message to other victims that justice in Sierra Leone may remain perpetually beyond reach.

A Call for Accountability

The Sierra Leone judiciary, especially the office of the Chief Justice, must immediately:

1. Launch an investigation into the missing file to determine who accessed it

2. Examine the State Counsel's handling of this and similar cases

3. Implement emergency measures to proceed with the case despite the "missing" file

4. Consider appointing a special prosecutor with demonstrated integrity to take over the case

Justice delayed is justice denied. In this case, the pattern of delays, culminating in the convenient disappearance of critical evidence, suggests something far more sinister than administrative inefficiency.

The message is clear for "Jane Doe" and countless other survivors watching this case. In Sierra Leone, justice remains elusive for victims of sexual violence. The question is whether newly appointed Justice Banks Kamara will allow this travesty to continue or take decisive action to ensure justice is served.

This post reflects the opinions of African Women's R.I.S.E. based on direct observations and reports from court proceedings. In this case, we call on all concerned citizens and organizations to demand accountability.