By: Audrey Raymonda John
A bench warrant has been issued against two defendants, Janet Ibrahim Charles and Musa Saidu, for allegedly failing to appear before Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, where they are facing three counts relating to the alleged non-consensual taking and sharing of intimate images.
The charges include sharing an intimate image without consent, contrary to Section 48(1)(a) of the Cyber Security and Crime Act, 2021 (Act No. 7 of 2021); posting a sexually explicit image without consent, contrary to Section 48(1)(e) of the same Act; and taking an intimate image without consent.
According to the particulars of the offences, on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, in Freetown, both defendants allegedly shared an intimate image of Stella Bewie without her consent through a Facebook account bearing the name Janet Abraham.
The second count alleges that, on the same date and at the same location, the first defendant used the same Facebook account to post a sexually explicit image of Bewie, allegedly intending to shame, humiliate and frighten her.
The third count alleges that, on 14 July 2026, at Pastoral Centre Guest House in Kenema, Kenema Judicial District, Eastern Province, the second defendant took an intimate image of Bewie without her consent.
When the matter came up in court, the prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dellia Wellington Esq., informed Magistrate Jah that both defendants were absent.
The prosecutor subsequently applied for bench warrants against the two defendants and their respective sureties.
Magistrate Jah granted the application and ordered that bench warrants be issued against both defendants.
The matter was adjourned to 2 November 2026 for further proceedings.
The allegations remain before the court, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.