By Kadijatu Bangura, Reporter D.S.
High Court Judge Adrian Fisher has sentenced former law clerk Mohamed Lamin Fofanah to 18 years in prison for the rape of an 18-year-old deaf and mute woman. The ruling was delivered on June 20, 2025, after Fofanah was convicted of exploiting the victim’s disability.
Judge Fisher emphasized the severity of the crime, stating, “You took advantage knowing she couldn’t report the assault. Yet God intervened; her sister caught you red-handed.” He noted that Fofanah’s not-guilty plea forced the victim and her sister to endure significant emotional trauma during testimony and cross-examination.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Fofanah, a neighbor who often fetched water for the victim’s aunt, attacked the young woman in her home on October 11, 2023. Despite her resistance, he overpowered her until her younger sister intervened by forcing open the door.
Justice Fisher highlighted the victim’s vulnerability and the need for a substantial sentence, stating, “The amended Sexual Offences Act mandates a 15-year minimum. Given how you’ve shattered her life, the minimum sentence is inadequate.” He imposed an 18-year sentence, accounting for time already served in remand.
During sentencing, Fofanah expressed remorse and reliance on his family. His defense counsel, Salieu Randy Bangura, requested leniency, citing Fofanah’s previous work as a law clerk and his time spent on remand. However, Prosecutor Musa Pious Sesay Jr. urged for maximum punishment, stressing the significant impact of the crime on the victim’s life. Medical examinations confirmed the rape following police investigations.
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