- By Alhaji Turay
The increasing reports of isolated attacks and killing on person’s found to be gay , lesbians, bisexual and transgender LGBT seem to have no end in sight as the recent case of jasper kamara, age16, of Moyamba district, Rotinfunk village depicted.
News intimated this press revealed that on October 18, 2022, isatu Bangura, who is a girl friend to jasper kamara, accompanied by community stakeholders, arrived in Rotinfunk police station, Moyamba district, and Reported that on 18th October 2022, at his residence, where jasper kamara used to meet with her, jasper kamara of the same adress was caught red-handed having sexual intercourse to wit gay (Homosexuality) with a male counter part, who is age 17, by the name of yembeh mansaray of the same address, Rotinfunk, Moyamba District, right inside chairman foday Boam bedroom,she further stated that upon seeing such and indecent and sinful act, she raised alarm and informed community stakeholders including the parents of jasper girl friend, who alerted the community stakeholders and youths to go after both suspects jasper kamara and Yembeh mansaray was apprehend for the offence they have committed which is a felonious offence and not acceptable in Sierra Leone. The youths then rushed at the scene and started beating up both suspects with sticks and other offensive weapons, in the interim suspects jasper kamara managed to escape from the violent crowd, whilst the other suspect yembeh mansaray was lying helplessly on the ground. The following morning hours, on the 19th October 2022, isatu Bangura together with community members, then went to the police and reported the matter. On receipt of this report, statement were obtained from complainant and her witnesses, a group of police personnel including the scene of crime officer (Soco) where dispatched to the scene onboard police vehicle with registration number SLP 215, on arrival at the scene, both suspect jasper and Yembeh were nowhere to be found. The police were reliably informed that both suspects having fled the country and went on hiding on an unknown destination, A police invitation for both suspects was issued to their relatives in order for them to report to the station the following day, For questioning in respect of the allegations levied against them which they deliberately failed to honor. Few days later, on the 19th October 2022, the police also went to the scene again in search of the suspects, but they were informed that, suspects jasper has fled the community and ran away to neighboring Guinea and that the other suspect yembeh mansaray is nowhere to be found. Due to that, the police has declared both suspects jasper and Yembeh wanted, a warrant of arrest been put in force for them in respect of the offence of Homosexuality to wit Gay which they have committed, as such offence is illegal in Sierra Leone, and anyone caught in such act should face the consequences. Jasper, who is doing an okada Ryder transport business at the Rontinfunk village, Moyamba district, has come under serious intimadation and harassment from members of his family and the community heads, after being caught practicing homosexuality in male partner in someone matrimonial home. According to sources from jasper Mother Mrs, fatu koroma told this medium that since childhood, jasper started practicing gay on being knowing of his elder brother and family members. Jasper was caught by his Girl friend practicing homosexuality with his male partner . Both family member’s stakeholders and the community youth have mounted a round clock search for jasper and his partner yembeh, who is now declared wanted by the Sierra Leone Police.
Jasper hails from a strong Islamic Muslim homes and his father is a Chief Imam at the Ronthinfuk Village Mosque, Moyamba district, He was raised by a strong Muslim family and they did not expected him to practice this act especially when his family was well known by members of the community as religious people and strict Muslim family.
Both national and religious laws in the country totally forbid individuals from practicing such acts. Family and community members were completely disappointed at Jasper and his partner Actions, which noted Goes contrary to their customs and traditions. Jasper seems very secretive about his sexual orientation before he was caught.
On the 18th October 2022, the girl friend of jasper kamara caught jasper having sexual intercourse with his male counter part at Chairman foday home which the girl friend called community members decided to take the laws into her hands together with physically and violently attacking, jasper and partner at the place of seeing during the process jasper and his partner were fortunate to escape for there lives.
After his successful escape he tried to go home and he was approached by his friend who informed him about how members of the community including some of his family members are planning to eliminate him because he has not only embarrassed and disgraced them but has also flouted the customs and traditions of the land and going against what the family believes in and as such was described as the black sheep of the family. As he was declared wanted.
This medium also learned that members of the community were against his lifestyle of which they were pointing fingers at them which nearly led him to commit suicide.
It was also understand that this irate community members stormed the residence of jasper and Yembeh mansaray partner based on an intelligence they purportedly received that he has returned to his residence which in actual facts turned out to be false. Since then No one’s knows the whereabouts of jasper and yembeh, which it is believed that both of the police and that of the community members are still angrily hunting him.
According to Sierra Leone laws lesbian and gay acts are totally discouraged. the Sierra Leone constitution stated that anyone caught in the practice must face a sentence of life imprisonment with hard labor.
