By: Audrey Raymonda John
Ansu Kamara, a pupil, was discharged on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, by the Principal Magistrate of the Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1, Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah.
Kamara was discharged following the mitigation plea he made before the court. Magistrate Jah acknowledged that Kamara was a first-time offender and a pupil.
Kamara had been charged with two counts: Wounding contrary to Section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, and Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm contrary to Section 47 of the same Act.
The indictment stated that Kamara, on Thursday, 4 September 2025, in Freetown, maliciously wounded Mohamed Pizaro Kamara and also assaulted him, causing actual bodily harm.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendant, he pleaded guilty to the offenses and asked Magistrate Jah to temper justice with mercy. The police prosecutor, ASP Ibrahim Mansaray, confirmed that Kamara is a first-time offender and presented an audio recording in which Kamara pleaded for mercy. Mansaray further stated that the defendant had no previous criminal record.
Before delivering his ruling, Magistrate Jah asked Kamara to define a “Noun” and a “Verb.” Kamara correctly responded that a noun is a name of a person, animal, place, or thing, and a verb is an action or describing word.
Magistrate Jah, after reviewing the prosecution’s submission and Kamara’s plea for mercy, decided not to impose a custodial sentence or a fine. He explained that Kamara’s status as a first-time offender and a school pupil in Form 2 were key factors in his decision. Magistrate Jah cautioned Kamara and discharged him, emphasizing that this would be a lesson for him to avoid further offenses in the future.