By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-five-year-old Idrissa Kabbia, a farmer, has been remanded to the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown by Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 on two counts of unlawful entry and illegal deforestation.
The charges are contrary to Section 7(m) and Section 7(c) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1972, as amended.
According to the particulars of offence, on 2 May 2026 at Motomeh, Regent, in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused allegedly unlawfully entered the Western Area Peninsula National Park without obtaining the required permit or licence from the appropriate authority.
Count two further stated that on the same date and at the same location, the defendant allegedly uprooted trees within the protected area without lawful authority.
Chief Superintendent of Police, Tommy B. Zizer, Esq., led the prosecution as the first witness.
Prosecution witness Ibrahim Tanko, a civil servant working for the National Protected Area Authority (NPAA), testified that on 2 May 2026, he received a call from the Director of NPAA, Alhaji S. Tunis, informing him that there was serious activity within the protected area.
He stated that upon proceeding to the location, he allegedly observed the defendant cutting sticks within the forest reserve. The witness told the court that the defendant fled the scene upon being noticed.
He added that on the following day; while returning to the area, he allegedly met the defendant carrying sticks out of the protected forest. The witness said he arrested the accused and took him to the Lumley Police Station, where a statement was obtained from him.
The defendant was cross-examined by the prosecution.
Magistrate Jah ordered that the accused be remanded in custody, citing the seriousness of the charges. The matter was adjourned to 16 June 2026 for further hearing.