Hon. Justice Abu Bakarr Sannoh acting under the Prison Court Initiative in Bo has acquitted and discharged six inmates at the Bo Correctional Centre and admitted to bail several others. The six acquitted and discharged were all female.
Miltonia Gardea, who was convicted and sentenced to seven (7) years imprisonment was released based on an application made by Legal Aid Defence Lawyer on grounds that the Magistrate exceeded his jurisdiction in sentencing her.
Commenting on the Magistrate’s decision, Hon Justice Sannoh said no Magistrate had the right to sentence a convict above five years. Consequently, her sentence was quashed by the judge.
Also, it was discovered that one Maria Kallon was wrongfully charged, convicted and sentenced to 30 months for Unlawful Possession of drugs, for which she was acquitted and discharged.
Hon. Justice Abu Bakarr Sannoh also acquitted and discharged Fatmata Kamara who was convicted of Domestic Violence (Economic Abuse) even though she has almost completed her term of imprisonment. She was originally convicted and sentenced for taking her husband’s IPad and mobile phone and giving them to her boyfriend. She expressed remorse for her actions.
Hon. Justice Sannoh also reviewed another Fatmata Kamara’s sentence at the Magistrate’s Court for Administering Poison to Engender Life by reducing her four year term by half. Another convict, Mariama Makuwa had her eight month sentence reduced to four months.
Hon. Justice Sannoh also granted bail and in some instances varied the bail conditions for several inmates including 17 year old JSS 111 student charged with burglary. Before granting bail, the Judge said that by the look of the boy he was certain he was under age. He granted him bail which he directed should be swiftly processed. Mohamed Kallon, who was charged with murder had his bail application refused.
In another development, Hon. Justice Abdulrahman Mansaray (J) assigned to deal with over 400 cases within the Western Area under the same Prison Court Initiative has upheld the convictions of over forty five (45) inmates convicted by the Magistrate’s Court.
The offences for which the convicts are serving various jail terms range from Larceny, Unlawful Possession, Riotous Conduct, Conspiracy, Wounding with Intent and Wounding, among others.
Credit: Judiciary Communications Department
