Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications, Main Law Courts Building, Freetown, 29th November 2022: Supreme Court Judge, Honourable Justice Alusine Sesay has ended the November High Court Criminal Sessions in Freetown with ten convictions.
He also cautioned and discharged two of the accused persons.
Fifty-Eight (58) accused persons were tried for various offences ranging from Murder, Manslaughter, Conspiracy, Robbery with Aggravation, Wounding with Intent, Larceny, Sacrilege and Assault, among others.
22-year-old Osman Koroma pleaded guilty of the offence of Sacrilege. He was alleged to have on the 4th & 5th day of March 2022, in Freetown, Western Area of the Country, broke and entered the Church of Prayer and Solutions Ministries and stole one Amplifier, one Mixer, two fans, two mics, one roll carpet, all at the total value of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Leones old notes (Le 10, 500,000).
Accused Koroma was sentenced to five years imprisonment including time already spent.
30-year-Old Joseph Tachequee pleaded guilty to the offence of Shop Breaking and Larceny Contrary to Section 26 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
It was alleged that on the 19th day of March. 2022 in Freetown, Western Area of the Country, broke and entered the shop of Emmanuel George Mobis and stole the sum of Fifty Eight Million Four Hundred Thousand Leones old notes (Le 58,400,000), Four Hundred British Pounds Sterling (£400) equivalent to Six million Leones old notes and other items valuing
Seventy Two Million Leones old notes (Le. 72,000,000).
In her plea in mitigation, Defence Lawyer from Legal Aid Board, Cecilia Tucker pleaded with the Judge to temper justice with mercy.
In his judgment, Hon. Justice Alusine Sesay said he took into consideration that the convict was 30-year-old, remorseful and didn’t waste the Court’s time, for which he sentenced him to five years imprisonment including time spent.
He also ordered that the items stolen be returned to the Complainant, George Mobis.
18-year-old pupil. Andul Sesay pleaded guilty to the offence of House Breaking and Larceny. He was alleged to have broken and entered the dwelling house of Hadrick Kanu and stole the sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Leones old notes (Le 1,500,000).
Having taken into consideration the plea in mitigation from the defence, that the accused is a first-time offender, didn’t waste the Court’s time and is now 19 years of age, Justice Sesay said there was room for reform and sentenced him to twelve months imprisonment including time spent.
He further ordered that the stolen sum, which is now an exhibit, be returned by the Exhibit Clerk to Hadrick Kanu.
In a similar development, Daddy Conteh pleaded guilty to the offence of Fraudulent Conversion and was sentenced to two years; Mohammed Kallon pleaded guilty to the offence of Wounding and was sentenced to 12 months; Mohamed Conteh equally pleaded guilty to the offence of Store Breaking and Larceny and was sentenced to three years; Alim Afiju Koroma pleaded guilty to the offence of Fraudulent Conversion and was sentenced to two years.
On the other hand, Justice Sesay cautioned and discharged 20-year-old Babah Conteh of the offence of Fraudulent Conversion and Osman Saidu Conteh of the offence of Causing Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent.
Of their own volition, other accused persons pleaded guilty to various offences and were sentenced accordingly.
The cases were prosecuted by State Counsel Jesse Tucker, representing the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, while Lawyer Cecilia Tucker from the Legal Aid Board represented the accused persons.
For more enquiries, contact the Judiciary Communications on +23234617548/ +23279101086 or visit us on www.judiciary.gov.sl or our social media platforms.