June 30, 2021
The Resident High Court Judge in Makeni, Hon. Justice Unisa Kamara (J) currently presiding over cases at the High Court Criminal Session in Magburuka Town, Northern Sierra Leone has on the 28th July, 2021 imprisoned 25-year-old Osman Kargbo, a Power Saw Operator of Mathamba Village after he pleaded guilty.
Accused Osman Kargbo was brought before the Court to answer to three Counts of Rape, Wounding with Intent and Assault contrary to law.
According to the particulars of offence, accused Osman Kargbo on the 24th day of March, 2021 along Gbalamuya Road, Yandugu village, Samaya Bendugu, Tonkolili District in the Northern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone, engaged in an act of Sexual Penetration with 55-year-old woman without her consent.
The medical report marked Exhibit D, revealed that the aged woman was bleeding profusely from her face with facial swelling and in a state of unconsciousness with torn clothes.
“Swelling and tenderness on the upper and lower eye lids of both left and right eye with closure of both eyeballs. Laceration wound, 2cm on the nasal bone region in length and 2.5cm in width and depth,” the endorsed medical report stated.
In his application, the State Counsel, A.Y. Mansaray applied for trial by a Judge alone instead of a Judge and Jury pursuant to Section 144 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965 as amended. His application was granted.
After the charges were put to the accused Osman Kargbo by the High Court Registrar, Mohamed Bangura, he pleaded guilty on Count 1 and 2 but pleaded not guilty on Count 3 for Assault occasioning actual bodily harm Contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against The Person Act, 1861.
In his plea in mitigation, Lawyer from the Legal Aid Board-Ibrahim Samba, told the Court that the convict (Osman Kargbo) is a first time offender and should be given another chance. He said the convict is a family man with a wife and children and didn’t in any way waste the time of the Honorable Court.
The convict in his allocutus also pleaded for mercy.
Delivering his sentence, Justice Unisa Kamara sentenced Osman Kargbo to 15 years on Count 1 and twenty years on Count 2 with sentences to be run concurrently.
Also, Justice Unisa Kamara sentenced James Conteh to one year four months for the Offences of Larceny and House Breaking contrary to Section 26 (1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
Yesterday’s cases mark the commencement of the June Criminal Sessions in the District with a total of 22 cases ranging from murder, manslaughter, sexual penetration, larceny, wounding with intent among others.
Meanwhile, Hon. Justice Unisa Kamara today, 29th June 2021 sentenced 36-year-old Abdul Conteh to 18 months imprisonment after he (accused) pleaded guilty to the offences of manslaughter and Possession of Small Arms.
According to the Particulars of offence, the accused on the 19th Day of June 2018, at Mageamie Village in Malal Chiefdom, Tonkolili District in the Northern Province of the Country unlawfully killed Dauda Conteh and was also found in possession of a locally made shotgun without license.
The High Court Criminal sessions are being funded by the Judiciary with funds from the Government of Sierra Leone and aimed at taking justice closer to the people.