Yunusa Jaiteh, a Guinean national, received an eight-year prison sentence on 20 October 2026 for the rape of a 15-year-old student. The Brikama Magistrates’ Court in the West Coast Region handed down the judgment following the conviction of the defendant for the sexual assault of the grade nine pupil. Jaiteh will serve his term at Mile 2 Central Prison. The legal proceedings concluded after investigators from the Banjulinding Police Station presented evidence regarding the incident, which involved a victim who had sought medical examination at Brikama District Hospital. Magistrate A. Darboe presided over the case, while the prosecution team included M.L. Barrow and Louise Jobe.
Details of the Criminal Offence
The criminal act took place within the West Coast Region during February 2026. Investigators from the Banjulinding Police Station established this timeline during the trial process.
Yunusa Jaiteh entered a guilty plea to one count of rape during the court proceedings. The charge was brought against him under Section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2013. Magistrate A. Darboe accepted the plea after the prosecution team, consisting of M.L. Barrow and Louise Jobe, submitted the formal charge to the Brikama Magistrates’ Court. The court finalized the conviction based on this admission of guilt.
Judicial Sentencing and Compensation Requirements
Magistrate A. Darboe ordered Yunusa Jaiteh to pay D150,000 in compensation to the victim as part of the sentencing requirements. The court stipulated that failure to provide this payment will result in an additional 10 years of imprisonment for the defendant. Under the terms of the judgment, this potential secondary sentence and the initial eight-year prison term are to run concurrently.
Medical evidence presented during the judicial process confirmed that the 15-year-old student was approximately eight months pregnant at the time of the proceedings. Magistrate A. Darboe emphasized the gravity of this development during the final hearing. "The court is further informed that the victim is heavily pregnant," Magistrate A. Darboe stated. "This is a very significant consideration in assessing her vulnerability and the seriousness of the circumstances before the court."
The court focused on the necessity of safeguarding the minor throughout the legal process. Magistrate A. Darboe noted, "The victim is a child who needs protection." These requirements regarding compensation and the assessment of the victim’s condition were finalized alongside the prison sentence to address the impact of the sexual assault. The financial penalty is intended to assist the victim following the incident that occurred in the West Coast Region in February 2026.
