By Kadijatu Bangura, Daily Scope Reporter
A court in Moyamba has remanded Marie Thorlley, a traditional initiator, following charges of unlawfully conducting Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on a 13-year-old girl in Ribbi Chiefdom. This act reportedly contravenes Sierra Leone’s child protection laws.
Thorlley was arrested on July 31, 2025, and made her initial court appearance on August 4, where she was denied bail and remanded in custody. During a subsequent hearing on August 12, Thorlley admitted under oath to initiating the procedure with the consent of the child’s grandmother, Hawa Jah.
The victim has since been placed in a safe home as the case progresses. The court has scheduled the next hearing for August 26, 2025.
For more information, please contact Daily Scope Newspaper at dailyscopemedia@gmail.com.
