By Jeneba A Conteh
Mariatu Bangura, a twenty-nine-year-old nanny, appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown on Friday, May 3rd, 2024, and was remanded in custody for allegedly beating one-year-old child Rhea Baydoun.
She faces a charge of Child Cruelty under the Children Act (Cap 31) of the Laws of Sierra Leone 1960.
The incident reportedly occurred on Friday, January 19th, 2024, at #3 off Spur Road, Lumley, in the Western Area of Freetown, where Mariatu Bangura was employed as a nanny for Rhea Baydoun, the daughter of Zanib Baydoun.
The prosecution presented Assistant Superintendent of Police Isatu Baba Musa as their first witness, along with Sergeant 9909 Kadiatu Kobba, who testified to the complaint made by the victim’s family at the Lumley Police Station.
Sergeant Kobba informed the court that the complainant provided a video footage from a CCTV camera, showing the accused beating the child.
The police subsequently arrested Mariatu Bangura and obtained a caution statement from her. The police also conducted an investigation at the crime scene, collected evidence, and submitted a comprehensive report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further action.
During the proceedings, counsel representing the accused, A.B Bangura Esq, applied for bail, stating that Mariatu Bangura is a Sierra Leonean resident with reliable sureties who are willing to stand as guarantors.
However, Magistrate Bangura denied the bail application and remanded the accused to the female correctional facility in Freetown. The case was adjourned to May 9th, 2024, for further hearing.
