By: Audrey Raymonda John
The High Court, presided over by Justice Adrian Fisher at Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown, has fined Mohamed Pope Kamara, who identifies himself as the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All People’s Congress (APC), NLe10 million in old Leones for contempt of court.
The court ordered Kamara to pay the fine or serve 14 days’ imprisonment at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown, pursuant to Section 179 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024. The judge also directed him to stay away from the press for 60 days.
The ruling followed contempt proceedings over allegations that Kamara had violated an existing injunction restraining certain individuals from presenting themselves as executive members of the APC or performing functions associated with those positions.
During the proceedings, Justice Fisher referred to several videos in which Kamara allegedly identified himself as the APC’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary. The court also referred to an article reportedly written by Kamara in which he described himself as holding the same position.
The judge questioned whether Kamara disputed making the statements or appearing in the videos, explaining that a denial could necessitate a fully contested hearing, with witnesses, including members of the media, potentially being called to testify.
The court noted that the videos and statements appeared to conflict with an earlier injunction restraining the executive members of the third defendant, the APC, from presenting themselves as party executives, attending executive meetings, performing functions ordinarily carried out by party executives or participating in activities in that capacity.
Justice Fisher explained that the contempt proceedings were intended to give Kamara an opportunity to show cause why he should not be held in contempt of the court’s orders.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, the judge advised Kamara to seek legal counsel before the proceedings continued, allowing him time to consult his lawyer.
During the proceedings, Kamara apologized to the court, expressed regret over his actions and acknowledged that he had made a mistake. He appealed for forgiveness and indicated his willingness to address the concerns raised against him.
However, the judge stressed that an apology alone did not remove the seriousness of the alleged breach of a court order.
The court also expressed concern over videos circulating on social media in which Kamara allegedly presented himself as the APC’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary. The judge advised that the videos and other offending materials be removed from public circulation.
The court subsequently considered Kamara’s efforts to remove the interview videos from the internet as an indication of remorse and a willingness to correct his actions.
In explaining the penalty, Justice Fisher disclosed that he had initially considered imposing a fine of NLe30 million in old Leones but reduced it to NLe10 million in old Leones after taking Kamara’s subsequent conduct, including his efforts to remove the videos, into consideration.
The court therefore ordered Kamara to pay the reduced fine or serve 14 days’ imprisonment at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. He was also directed to stay away from the press for 60 days.
Counsel Suliman Kabba Koroma Esq., who represented Kamara, emphasised the importance of respecting the rule of law and the authority of the judiciary.
He argued that legal practitioners and political actors had a responsibility to uphold judicial authority and comply with court orders. He also urged the court to impose an appropriate penalty, saying the matter should serve as a lesson to Kamara and others who might disregard the authority of the courts.
The proceedings underscore the importance of compliance with judicial orders, particularly in politically sensitive disputes involving party leadership and internal governance.
The court’s decision highlights that individuals affected by injunctions are expected to abide by their terms, and alleged violations may lead to contempt proceedings and sanctions.