By: Audrey Raymonda John
The High Court of Sierra Leone, sitting in Port Loko and presided over by Hon. Justice Sahr Elogima Kekura, has delivered significant sentences in two separate criminal cases involving sexual offences against a minor and drug trafficking.
Abdul Kamara Sentenced to 20 Years for Sexual Offences Against a Minor
Abdul Kamara was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment after being convicted on three counts: sexual penetration of a child contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2012, as amended by Section 4(iii) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019; sexual touching of a child contrary to Section 20(1)(a) of the Act; and meeting a child for sexual purposes contrary to Section 23(1)(c).
The prosecution alleged that between 16th and 23rd October 2025, at Rotifunk, Lungi in Port Loko District, Kamara engaged in acts of sexual penetration, sexual touching, and meeting a child for sexual purposes.
Kamara pleaded guilty to all charges. In his plea for mitigation, he expressed remorse, stating that he had learned his lesson while in custody and promised never to engage in such conduct again. He appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy.
In sentencing, Hon. Justice Kekura acknowledged Kamara’s guilty plea but emphasized the seriousness of the offences. He stated:
“Taking into consideration your plea in mitigation and the nature of the offences, I hereby sentence you on count one for sexually penetrating a child to 20 years’ imprisonment, count two for sexually touching a child to five years, and count three for meeting a child for sexual purposes to five years.”
The sentences are to run concurrently. Sama Koroma Sentenced to 40 Years for Drug Trafficking
In a separate case, Sama Koroma was sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to multiple drug-related offences. Koroma faced two charges: unlawful possession of drugs contrary to Section 8(c) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008, and selling prohibited drugs contrary to Section 7(e) of the same Act.
The prosecution alleged that on 7th November 2025, at Door Area, Marampa Chiefdom, Koroma was found in possession of dried leaves believed to be cannabis sativa without lawful authority and had sold 123.4 grams of the substance. She pleaded guilty to both charges.
Defence counsel M. Korie Esq. and T.P.M. Sowa Esq. requested leniency, noting that Koroma had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and had not wasted the court’s time
Hon. Justice Kekura, however, stressed the severity of drug offences, stating that the selling of dangerous drugs poses a serious threat to the nation, destroying lives, communities, and the offenders’ futures. Taking this into account, he imposed a *40-year prison sentence, reflecting the gravity of the offences.