By: Problyn J. Alpha
During the September criminal session held in the Kono Judiciary District, Eastern Province of Sierra Leone, His Lordship Justice Santigie Ibrahim Sorie Bangura, Resident Judge of the Sefadu High Court, convicted and sentenced Mohamed Jalloh and Mohamed Kanu to ten years of imprisonment each. The two men were found guilty of conspiracy, contrary to law, and larceny in a dwelling house, in violation of Section 13 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the charge sheet, on February 20, 2025, in Soso Town, Njagbema, in the Nimikoro Chiefdom of Kono District, the convicts conspired with other unknown individuals to commit burglary and larceny. On the same date, they entered the dwelling house of Osman Bah, stealing a total of forty thousand Leones in cash and a black bag containing 160 pieces of gold dust, valued at 61,696 Leones, bringing the total value of stolen property to 109,699 Leones.
After considering the mitigation put forward by the defense lawyer, AO Kamara, who requested the judge to temper justice with mercy, and the convicts’ expressions of remorse, Justice Bangura acknowledged the defense’s arguments. However, the judge emphasized that the severity of the charges, coupled with the significant value of the stolen gold dust, required a strong judicial response to deter similar crimes.
The court sentenced both convicts to two years for conspiracy and eight years for larceny. The state was represented by lawyer Charles Foday Sesay, while the defense lawyer AO Kamara was from the Legal Aid Board.