By: Audrey Raymonda John
Alfred Ganda of the High Court in Freetown has sentenced Abdulai Kemokai to two and a half years (30 months) imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to one count of housebreaking and larceny involving property belonging to his elder sister, valued at Le 32,750.
The sentencing took place at the Main Law Courts Building on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, during the ongoing September 2025 criminal sessions.
In delivering his sentence, Justice Ganda said he considered several mitigating factors, including the convict’s guilty plea, the fact that he is a first-time offender, and that he had begged the court for mercy.
Lead defence counsel C. Taylor-Young pleaded on behalf of the convict, describing him as young and promising, and noted that he had shown remorse for his actions.
Lead state prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay told the court that the incident occurred on February 28, 2025, when the convict was residing with his elder sister at Mothem Village, along the Regent-Grafton Highway. On that day, the sister had travelled to the provinces and left Kemokai in charge of her house.
Upon her return, she discovered that several items were missing, including a mobile phone, a Bluetooth device, and other personal belongings. When questioned, the convict initially denied involvement, but later confessed to the theft at the police station.
Kemokai admitted that he had sold some of the stolen items in Wellington, Freetown. Unfortunately, none of the stolen property was recovered.
This case is part of the ongoing September 2025 criminal call-over, which was officially opened by Chief Justice Komba Kamanda.