By: Problyn J. Alpha
During the September criminal session held in the Kono Judiciary District, Eastern Province of Sierra Leone, the Resident Judge of the Sefadu High Court, His Lordship Justice Santigie Ibrahim Sorie Bangura, 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 under Section 13 of the Larceny Act of 1916. According to the charge sheet, on February 20, 2025, in Soso Town, Njagbema in Nimikoro Chiefdom, Kono District, Jalloh and Kanu conspired with other unknown individuals to commit burglary and larceny. On the same date, they entered the dwelling house of Osman Bah, where they stole forty thousand Leones in cash and one black bag containing 160 (25%) gold dust, valued at 61,696 Leones, making the total stolen property worth 109,699 Leones.
In his ruling, Justice Bangura considered the mitigation plea presented by the defense lawyer, A.O. Kamara, who appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy. Kamara noted that the convicts had expressed remorse. However, the judge emphasized that the gravity of the charges, particularly the amount of gold dust stolen, required serious consideration. The court, he stated, must take necessary actions to address such criminal acts.
As a result, Mohamed Jalloh and Mohamed Kanu were each sentenced to two years for conspiracy and eight years for larceny, totaling ten years of imprisonment.
The state was represented by Charles Foday Sesay, while A.O. Kamara of the Legal Aid Board served as the defense counsel.