By Audrey Raymonda John

Joseph Sao Amara, a 25-year-old man, found himself behind bars on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, after appearing at Sexual Offences Court No. 7 on Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown. Charged with sexual penetration under Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act of 2012, as amended by Section 4(a)(ii) of the 2019 Amendment Act, Amara stands accused of a grave crime against a child under 18.

Prosecutors allege that on December 26, 2023, Amara committed an act of sexual penetration against the minor in Freetown a violation that carries severe penalties under Sierra Leones bolstered laws, the charge was read aloud in court, its weight hanging heavy as Amara, unrepresented by counsel, listened intently. He pleaded not guilty, his voice firm but solitary in the dock.

Justice Stevens, presiding over the session, showed no leniency. Citing the seriousness of the offense, he denied bail and ordered Amara remanded to Freetown’s male correctional facility, this is about protection and justice, Stevens ruled, setting the next hearing for April 30, 2025. The adjournment leaves Amara in limbo and a community awaiting answers.

The matter, still in its preliminary phase, underscores Sierra Leones unflinching stance on sexual crimes against minors. With no lawyer to bolster his defense, Amaras not-guilty plea sets the stage for a trial that will hinge on evidence yet to unfold. For now, the young man’s fate rests behind bars, his story a stark reminder of the laws reach and the vulnerability it seeks to shield.