At least 8 Convicts at the Correctional Centre in Port Loko have now known where to be either for this Festive Season or in the next couple of years. Their fate was determined by Hon. Justice Abdul Sheriff - the Presiding Judge at the High Court Holden in Port Loko. The Convicts were arraigned before Justice Abdul Sheriff on separate and diverse Offences / Counts ranging from Conspiracy, Fraudulent Conversion, Larceny of Motorbike, Cattle, Dwelling House, House Breaking and Killing Animal with intent.
The Proceedings were remarkably swift as all the Accused Persons were prosecuted by the State Counsel for the North West Region and defended by Counsels from the Legal Aid Board of Sierra Leone. Each of the 8 Accused Person pleaded guilty as charged just after the particulars of Offence were read and explained to them. They did not actually waist the precious time of the Court. Perhaps that was the more reason why the Judge seemed lenient in handing out the Sentence to them.
The Defence Lawyers - T.P M Sowa and Mohamed Kori were equally brief in their mitigation pleas for each of the Accused Persons. All they said was for the Judge to tamper mercy with justice as the convicts are Sierra Leoneans and Bread Winners for their respective families. The Defence Lawyers said the Convicts have learnt from their mistakes and vowed not to resort to such behaviours never in their lives.
Alimamy Keso Kamara is a native of Magbema Chiefdom in the North West District of Kambia. He was charged with the offence of stealing a TVS Motorbike valued 4000 Leones which was entrusted to him by Alhassan Salim Kamara for the purpose of transportation. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 2-year imprisonment. Mohamed Kamara of Port Loko City was sentenced to 3 years for stealing a Pig valued 5000 Leones from Kadiatu Bangura.
Another Mohamed Kamara from Tonko Limba in the Kambia District was before the Court for the offences of Conspiracy, Housebreaking and Larceny. He pleaded guilty of stealing 2000 Leones cash, 1 Bluetooth player from Fatmata Abu Bakarr and was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. Mustapha Yayah Kamara from Kambia District was sent down for 2 years. He appeared on 2 Counts Charge of Larceny and Killing Animal with intent contrary to Section 4 of the Larceny Act 1916.
Also Alimamy Turay was sentenced to 2 years for each of the 3 Counts Charge - a sentence that should run concurrently. A 2 year imprisonment was levied on Mohamed Sesay of Koya Chiefdom in the Port Loko District who pleaded guilty of the offence of dwelling
house contrary to Section 13 [a] of the Larceny Act 1916. He was accused of stealing one (1) HLX TVS Motorbike valued 23000 Leones.
Alpha Kamara and Sulaiman both of Magbema Chiefdom, were some of the last batch of Convicts to receive their Sentence. Sulaiman was in for Fraudulent Conversion of a Blue TVS Motorbike valued at 16,500 Leones from its owner – Sheka Sankoh of Baimoi Luma. He was sentenced to 3 years.
Alpha Kamara was in Court for the offence of Larceny Dwelling House. The various items he is said to have stolen included a pair of slippers, torchlight, Ports, empty Jerry Cans and Male Muslim Cloths. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 2 months.
Ibrahim Sorie Kanu was the last to have his fate determined by Hon. Justice Abdul Sheriff. He had 2 Counts Charge one of which was killing Animal with intent contrary to Section 4 of the Larceny Act 1916. The incident occurred on 11th. August 2024 at Magbema Chiefdom in Kambia District where he wilfully killed 3 Sheep including a male sheep all valued 10,500 Leones. He pleaded guilty on all Counts and was sentenced to 3-year imprisonment.
The Judge expressed optimism that these sentences will serve as a deterrent to young people who wish to take thieving as a way of life. ‘You are all pretty young men who ought to be in learning Institutions. Some of you can even get yourselves enrolled in Technical and Vocational Institutes to make yourself-reliant’ Justice Sheriff observed.
Many People viewed the decision of the learned judge as a positive step in the right direction in a bid to curb criminality in Communities. The general belief is that people would now be able to enjoy a sigh of relief and quite sure to enjoy this festive season in a more relaxed mood with such a large number of young criminals put behind bars.
Hassan Bruz
SLENA Correspondent
076870982
Comentarios