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A Magistrate Court in Freetown has issued a bench warrant for an accused person and his sureties after they failed to appear in court in an ongoing land dispute case.
The accused, Mohammed Sheriff, is standing trial before Magistrate Mary Julia Gbloh at Pademba Road Court No. 5 on four counts, including threatening conduct, trespass, and malicious damage.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences relate to a parcel of land at Banga Farm in Sussex within the Freetown Judicial District. The charges include entering the complainant’s land in a threatening manner in March 2023, returning to the property in April 2023 despite warnings, remaining unlawfully on the land in April 2024, and allegedly damaging a fenced gate valued at SLE 55,000 in June 2025.
The charges are brought under the Public Order Act of 1965 and the Malicious Damage Act of 1861.
During the hearing, prosecution witness Umaru Tabeajutu, a carpenter and neighbour to both parties, testified that he observed several incidents involving the accused and individuals linked to him. He told the court that the accused and a woman identified as Nadia were seen on the disputed land on multiple occasions.
The witness further stated that surveyors were later brought to the property without the complainant’s consent, and that building materials were subsequently delivered to the site. He also alleged that the complainant’s gate was eventually broken to allow access for construction materials, reportedly on the instructions of the accused.
At a critical stage of the proceedings, counsel for the complainant applied for a bench warrant after the accused failed to appear in court.
Magistrate Gbloh granted the application and ordered that a bench warrant be issued against the defendant and his sureties to compel their appearance.
The matter has been adjourned to 25 March 2025 for further hearing.
Source: https://sierraleoneconcordtimes.com/court-issues-bench-warrant-for-absent-defendant-and-sureties/
