By Aminata Phidelia Allie
Reliable court sources have revealed to Politico that the rape case involving the sacked deputy minister of education was not called up on Tuesday, 10 December because he has not yet been served an indictment.
"The matter cannot be mentioned until there is a proof of service” the source said.
Mahmoud Tarawallie, who allegedly raped a 24-year-old university student in return for an international scholarship to study in Ukraine, was committed in November to a High Court in Freetown, and was due before Justice M. A. Paul but could not stand before the judge for technical reasons.
It is not yet clear when he will actually appear in court.
The minister was sacked in September this year following the allegations and subsequent indictment.
Though lawyers for the accused insist that whatever happened between their client and the student was consensual, the alleged victim has testified in open court that she was raped by the then minister who “tightly held my hands behind and forcefully had sex with me without a condom”.
He made seven appearances before magistrate Tonia Barnette of Court No. 2 before his case was committed for proper trial on four counts of rape, wounding with intent, wounding and assault, all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
(C) Politico 12/12/13
