Hawa Hunt, a former reality TV star, marked her birthday behind bars on Sunday, February 9, 2025, following her continued detention on charges under Sierra Leone’s Cybercrime Act.

Hunt was arrested live on television on December 22, 2024, for allegedly making disparaging remarks about President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Bio during the recent election campaign.

The accusations stem from a series of Facebook posts published between April 1 and April 30, 2024, which prosecutors claim caused public disturbance and damaged the First Family’s reputation.

On January 22, 2025, Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Magistrate Court No. 2 in Freetown ruled against a ‘no-case’ submission filed by Hunt’s legal team. Her defense had argued that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to substantiate the charges. However, the magistrate dismissed this argument, stating that the prosecution had established the necessary elements of the alleged offenses, warranting the case’s escalation to the High Court.

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Hunt faces two counts under the Cybercrime Act for sending insulting messages via a computer system. Despite securing bail with conditions—including surrendering her Sierra Leonean and Canadian passports—she remains in custody due to her inability to provide the required sureties.

As a result, Hunt remains in custody, marking her 34th birthday within the confines of prison walls.