Kenema — Kenema Police family support unit in Kenema district is currently investigating 4 teenagers for allegedly using their fingers and broom straws on a 13-year old girl on the pretext that they were testing her virginity. The victim is at the Kenema government hospital responding to treatment.

The victim (name witheld0 had gone to fetch water for her grandmother in a neighbouring compound when she was directed by another teenager to get a 'draw rubber' from a store.

"As I went into the store, I was pulled into the store by the accused persons who were already in there. I was forced onto the floor, my pant was removed, a piece of cloth was stuffed into my mouth while they started putting their fingers and broomstick on my private part," she explained.

The victim narrated that the door of the store was firmly closed so that people passing by would not understand their mission.

"I started bleeding profusely until an old woman who was passing by forced herself into the store. I became unconscious and was told that blood was oozing out of my private part," she said.

She further explained that she was also told that some particles of the broom straw were found in her private part. As a result she has been hospitalised for about a week and has missed most of her classes in school.

Officer in Charge of FSU in Kenema Esther Kamara said they are seriously interested in knowing the reason for the arbitrary detention by the accused persons and why they had to use of their fingers and broom sticks into her vagina.

Kamara said the FSU has called on officials from the ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's affairs to jointly investigate the matter.

She said they are waiting for the medical report without which they will not be able to charge the matter to court.

Families of the accused persons have raised concern over the long detention of their children. They said an individual is presumed innocent of an allegation until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by a court of law.

Thus, the parents are calling on the police to either allow their children bail or charge the matter to court.