By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
The High Cohrt of Sierra Leone has commenced its January 2023 Criminal Session at the High Court no.1 in Freetown presided by Justice Monfred M.Sesay on the 30th January 2023.
Accused persons were arraigned before the Honouranle trial judge.
Foday Kamara being the first accused arraigned before Justice Monfred on a one count charge of House Breaking and Larceny Contrary to Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
The particulars of offence on the face of the indictment states that the accused person Foday Kamara on the 16th May2022 at Waterloo in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone broke and entered the dwelling house of Samai Samba with intent to steal and stole therein One blue Tecno Spark Android Mobile Phone valued at One Million three hundred thousand Leones (1,300,000) and a fiscal sum of One Million gheee hundred and twenty five thousand Leones (1,325,000) all to the total value of Two Million six hundred and twenty five thousand Leones (2,625,000) property of Samai Samba.
The accused upon his arraignment pleaded guilty to the charge when read to him.
According to the accused he has been working for Samai Samba engaging in laundering and many more, he stated that no financial arrangements were made while exercising his duties rather he said the wife of Samai Samba who contracted him to be helping his husband with these chores normally gives him food on a daily basis and has been working for Samai Samba for the past 1year.
According to the accused he said he has been working for Samai Samba and that he fell ill and asked of help to him to which the accused said he replied him that he must be given time to arrange something for him, upon this, he said this happened for over a month and was still working for him and still being promised.
He also said that he received a call from his sister who informed him of his mother’s death and again asked if financial help to him and was promised again, he told the court that he grew impatient and broke into the house through the ceiling and stole from him.
State Prosecutor AJM.Bockarie Esq briefly stated the facts of the matter.
Defense Cousnel for the accused C.Tucker Esq form Legal Aid Board made plea mitigation for and on behalf of the accused that he is a 22hears old promising young man and a first time offender and that the sum of 346,000Nle was retrieved and the mobile phone.
Justice Monfred Sesay, after listening to the accused and defense counsel sentenced the accused person to a year with immediate effect from the 19th May 2022.
Samuel James Kamara made his appearance before Justice Monfred Sesay of the High court no.1 in Freetown on a two count charge indictment and its statement of offence on count 1 Burglary and Larceny Contrary to Section 25 (1) and 13 (a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
It’s particulars of offence states that the accused person on the 17th August 2022 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone broke and entered into the house of Mohamed Mansaray with intent to steal and stole therein twenty clay coal pots valued at 6,000Nle, two cooking pots valued at 400Nle, four pairs of slide slippers Six Hundred Leones all to the total value of Seven Thousand (700Nle) property of the said Mohamed Mansaray and on count two statement of offence Malicious Damage Contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious damage Act 1861.
On count two it’s particulars of offense states that the accused person Samuel James Kamara on the 17th August 2022 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, maliciously damaged four sheets of six feet zinc valued at Thirty Million Leones property of the said Mohamed Mansaray and thereby did injury to the sum of 140Nle.
Justice Monfred Sesay sentenced the accused to 5 years imprisonment on count 1 and acquitted and discharged him on count 2.
He said his reason for sentencing the accused on count 1 was the fact that the accused upon arraignment lied about his age when asked being 16 years when he was asked again and confessed of being 20years.
Ibrahim Kargbo also made an appearance before Justice Monfred Sesay on one count indictment of which the statement of offence states wounding with intent contrary to section 18 of the offenses against the person Act 1861 and its particulars states that the accused person Ibrahim Kargbo on the 14th September 2022 at Waterloo the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone wounded Gibrilla Tarawallie with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
The accused pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 5months imprisonment with effect from the 19th September by Justice Monfred Sesay.
State counsels representing the state were AJM Bockarie Esq Senior state counsel, SC Kekura Esq, M.Pious Sesay Esq, P.Hasting Spaine Esq, and Tb Zizer Esq.
Defense Counsels for and on behalf of accused persons arraigned C.Tucker Esq lead defense counsel, I Samba Esq, M.Kari mu Esq, and R.S Bangura Esq.