Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications, Main Law Court’s Building, Freetown, 25th October, 2021: The Resident High Court Judge in Koinadugu District, Hon. Justice Abdul Rahman Mansaray who presided over the October High Court Criminal Sessions in Mongo town, Fabala District has closed the sessions with three convictions and one acquittal.
The five-day sessions looked into eleven cases brought before the court ranging from Conspiracy, Arson, Burglary, Causing Grievous Bodily Harm and five cases of Sexual Penetration among others.
Convict Gibril Komba Saffa Conteh was before the court on a one count indictment of sexual penetration contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2012, as repealed and replaced by Section 4 (a)(iii)of the Sexual Offences Amendment Act No. 8 of 2019.
The prosecution had alleged that the convict (Conteh) on the 5th day of June 2021, at Kridu Village in the Delmandugu Chiefdom, Falaba District in the Northern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone sexually penetrated a child.
Upon his arraignment, the convict pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The trial by judge alone Application instead of a judge and jury made by State Counsel Lawyer Augustine Y. S Mansaray was granted by the Honourable judge in the interest of justice and expeditious trial.
The accused at the close of the Prosecution’s case, relied on his denial statement to the police.
At the end of arguments from the prosecution and the defence, Gibril Komba Saffa Conteh was found guilty of the offence as charged.
In his allocutus, the convict pleaded for mercy.
He was convicted and sentenced to 12 years imprisonment which shall start to run from the 23rd of July 2021.
Similarly, 49-year-old Butcher, Hassan Bularoh Barrie was tried and convicted of the offence of maliciously administering poison so as to endanger life contrary to Section 23 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.
According to the particulars of offence, the convict on the 19th day of August 2021, at Gbindi Town in the Dembellia Senkunia Chiefdom, Falaba District in the Northern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone maliciously administered to Sulaiman Bah a poison, to wit caustic soda, to endanger his life.
At the end of the trial, he was sentenced to nine years imprisonment which shall start to run from the 14th September 2021.
In another related matter, 24-year-old Timber Labourer, Mohamed Barrie alias Tailor was tried and convicted of a one count of Burglary.
According to the particulars of offence, Barrie on the 15th May 2021, at Gbindi Town, Dembellia Senkunia Chiefdom, Falaba District, with intent broke in and entered into the house of Hassan Gbla and stole therein one Teckno Canon 16 mobile phone valued Le 3.500,000.
He was sentenced to eight years imprisonment which shall start to run from the 24th of June 2021.
Also, Foday Marah was acquitted and discharged of a one count indictment of sexual touching of a child.
It was alleged that Marah, on the 18th of June 2021 at Walai Village in Mongo Chiefdom Falaba District, in the Northern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone touched a child in a sexual manner.
The evidence put forward by the prosecution against the accused was not convincing to warrant conviction and he was subsequently acquitted and discharged.
The matter between the State and Trader Kelie Koroma, Power Saw Operators Ibrahim Kamara and Sulaiman Samura who were before the court on a two count of Conspiracy and Aggravated Sexual Assault was reserved for judgment.
The remaining matters were adjourned to the next sessions in February for continuation of hearing.
The High Court Criminal sessions are funded by the Judiciary with funds from the Government of Sierra Leone and aimed at taking justice closer to the people.
For more information, contact the Judiciary Communications on +23234617548, +23276321184, +23279101086
