The Judiciary of Sierra Leone Communications, Koidu Town, Kono District, Eastern Sierra Leone, 17th February 2025: The February High Court Criminal Sessions have commenced in Koidu Town- Kono District in the Eastern Province of the country with thirty-eight (38) cases being presided over by the Honourable Justice Augustine K. Musa (J).
The two-week exercise, which commenced Monday 17th February 2025, is aimed at increasing access to justice by taking Judges to places where there are no resident High Court Judges.
Speaking to the Public Relations Officer II of the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, Francis H. Murray, the Paramount Chief (PC) of Gbense Chiefdom, Kono District, Sangor Korgbende Kaimachiandeh, said the holding of the High Court Sessions in the district is proof that the leadership of the Judiciary is committed to increasing access to justice across the country amid the limited number of judges.
Responding to the information that the same sessions started in Magburaka Town, with Kambia and Pujehun to also commence theirs on the 27th February, PC Kaimachiandeh alluded to recent visit by Paramount Chiefs in Kono District to the office of the Chief Justice, where the Hon. Chief Justice made quite clear his vision of making justice expeditiously accessible across the country.
While he lauded the move and acknowledged the Hon. Chief Justice Komba Kamanda’s stern belief in the rule of law and upholding human rights, he encouraged the Judiciary to be swift with the recruitment of more judges that remains key to access to justice.
In his opening remarks shortly before the commencement of the session, Hon. Justice Musa said for the exercise to be successful, it required the full cooperation of the Correctional Services, the Police, Law Officers, Legal Aid, Jurors and even Witnesses and Complainants, stressing on the need for all stakeholders to take the session seriously and get the job done within the stipulated timeframe.
Forty-nine (49) accused persons in respect of the 38 files are before the court to answer to various offences ranging from Murder, Manslaughter, Wounding with Intent, Sexual Penetration, Conspiracy and various forms of Larceny.
Among those strained at the start were 24-year-old Mason, Ibrahim Allieu, 32-year-old Miner, Abdul Karim Conteh, 21-year-old David Sefea, 20-year-old Daniel Kamara, 18-year-old Alie Maculley, 22-year-old Taylor, Sahr Koroma, 18-year-old Ibrahim Yongai, 20-year-old Mohamed Jabbie, 24-year-old Mohamed Bangura, Joseph Ansu Aiah Lebbie, 18-year-old David Ansumana, 22-year-old Emmanuel Smart and 32-year-old Tamba Aruna. All pleaded guilty to various forms of Larceny; and their matters adjourned for sentence.
Also, a 39-year-old carpenter, Ibrahim Rogers, pleaded guilty of Manslaughter while Sahr Suma pleaded not guilty to three counts of Murder, Unlawful Possession of Small Arms without Licences and Importation of Arms without permit. Osman Sesay, Aiah Kpakiwa, Allieu Juldeh Jalloh, Sahr James and Abdul Koroma all pleaded guilty to the offence of Sexual penetration upon their arraignment.
The matters are being prosecuted by State Counsel C. F Sesay, and the Accused Persons represented by Lawyer A. O. Kamara. The session ends on the 1st of March 2025.
Sourced: SLJ Communications
