By: Audrey Raymonda John
High Court Judge Justice Santigie Bangura has sentenced Mohamed Tarawalie to ten (10) years’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of larceny. The sentencing took place on Monday, 10th November 2025, at the Kono High Court.
Tarawalie was arraigned before the learned judge on a charge of store breaking and larceny, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act 1916. According to the indictment, on 18th May 2025, in Kono, Eastern Province, Tarawalie broke into the store of Yei Queewa Solleh and stole one aluminum mortar and other assorted items, with a total value of 1,355 new leones (NLe 1,355), the property of Yei Queewa Solleh.
Upon the reading and explanation of the charges, the defendant pleaded guilty.
State Prosecutor Lawyer C.R. Sesay urged the court to accept the defendant’s guilty plea and to sentence him accordingly.
In his allocutus, Tarawalie appealed for the court to temper justice with mercy, explaining that he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crime and vowed not to repeat his actions.
Defense Counsel, Lawyer A.O. Kamara, in his mitigation plea, stated that the defendant was a first-time offender and had not wasted the court’s time by pleading guilty. He requested that the court show leniency and temper justice with mercy.
Justice Bangura, after considering the guilty plea and the mitigation plea from the defense, acknowledged the defendant’s remorse. However, he emphasized that the serious nature of the offense warranted a tough stance to serve as a deterrent to others.
In his ruling, Justice Bangura stated, “Taking into consideration the serious nature of the offense, the court must take a tough stance in order to deter others from engaging in such acts.”
Considering this, Justice Bangura sentenced Mohamed Tarawalie to ten (10) years’ imprisonment.