Citation

Bah H, Ette HY, Soumah M, Diallo LL, Bah AA, Diallo N, Telmon N. Rev. Med. Leg. 2011; 2(2): 54-58.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.medleg.2011.03.005

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The goal of this study is to identify perpetrators of sexual assault in Conakry, Guinea. It is a retrospective study that dates back from January 1st 2007 to January 31st 2009. Records obtained from the police and other law enforcement agencies and the dockets of court were used in this study. A form of individual and personal investigation evaluated based on the criteria of our study served as a collection instrument. All the individuals arrested for sexual assault in the city of Conakry were included. Our sample size was 363. The software Epi info was used to prepare some of the data. In this study, all the accused perpetrators of sexual assault were males, and single for the most part (61.2%). In 46.3% of cases, the perpetrators were young and between the age of 16- and 35-year-old. Construction workers represented 24%, students 19%, and unemployed men were 16.5%. After the instruction phase, 102 people, or about 28.1%, were released following a non-suit and 27 people or about 7.4% had their cases dismissed. Forty-two people or about 11.6% committed a small infraction and were sent back to the criminal court. About 78 people or 21.5%, committed a more serious infraction, or crime, and were sent to the Assize Court. There were 114 people, 31.4%, whose training phase was not complete. Rape on minors was the most observed form of sexual assault with 240 cases, or about 66.1%. Among those cases, three or 0.8%, were followed by murder. Of the 42 sex offenders sent to the criminal court, nine (21,4%) were judged and convicted of sentences ranging from 10 to 15 months of prison term and given fines ranging from 1,000,000 francs guinéens (about 167 euros) to 1,500,000 francs guinéens (about 250 euros). Of the 78 accused perpetrators sent to the Assize court, 12 (about 15.4%) were judged and sentenced to two to four years of prison term. Psychiatric evaluation was done on three perpetrators, two of whom were found to be "mentally ill" with one case of epilepsy and delirium.