A 21-year-old man has been transferred to the 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Voinjama for allegedly raping a child, age 7 in Salayea district, Lofa County.
Rape and gruesome killings among other negative acts against women and children are now said to be on the increase in Lofa, particularly in Zorzor and Salayea districts.
Mr. Zayzay Massaquoi was transferred to Voinjama last Tuesdayby the Salayea Magisterial Court in Salayea district, after he allegedly committed the act on August 25, 2018 in that area.
Information gathered from both parents of the survival is that the incident occurred while they were on their farm producing palm old when the alleged perpetrator was passing by and asked the father of the child to allow her go with him in order to get ten Liberian dollars worth of palm wine for her father.
They told police investigators that upon the return of the child, her clothes and hairs were all dirty which led to the mother asking the child as to what had happen to her.
“It was Zayzay Massaquoi (defendant) who threw me to the ground and started forcing his penis in me. But it was too big to enter so he started using his finger and his finger enter my virginal,” the 7-year-old rape victim explained.
“I was crying but no one could hear me because he covered my mouth,” the child continued.
This caused the little girl to bleed profusely, after which she was rushed to the hospital for examination.
According to medical reports from the Current hospital in Zorzor, it was established that there was a forceful penetration on the survival’s private part.
He was transferred to the 10th Judicial Circuit Court after being charged alleged rape which is a violation of section 14.70 of the New Penal Law of Liberia and a felony of the first degree, because the alleged act was intentionally, recklessly and criminal done.
Rape case is also above the jurisdiction of a Magisterial Court and must be transferred to a circuit court for prosecution.
Mr. Zayzay Massaquoi has been reminded at the Voinjama Central Prison while awaiting Court trail.
Twelve years after the end of the civil war, sexual violence continues to present a significant threat to the physical security of women and children across Liberia.
The social breakdown that occurred during 14 years of brutal conflict, in which sexual violence was rampant, has left a profound imprint on Liberian society, especially as the issue was not addressed during the peace process.
The rape of minors is the most frequently reported incident of sexual and gender-based violence.
According to a UN Women Report, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) is a pervasive problem in many societies around the world. It is a human rights violation and is an impediment to the advancement of the survivors who are often women and girls, affecting their participation in social, political, and economic activities.
In Liberia, UN Women is leading the way in efforts to address the scourge of sexual and gender-based violence women and girls are faced with through a joint programme between the Government of Liberia and the United Nations. Report by Tokpa Tarnue