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The High Court of [Jurisdiction] has commenced its January 2025 Criminal Session with ten convictions out of twenty-one criminal cases brought before the court.
Presided over by Honourable Justice Alfred T. Ganda, the session began with a “call over,” a procedural step where the judge takes the pleas of accused persons committed for trial by Magistrates’ Courts or those indicted with the written consent of a judge.
During the call over, accused persons who pleaded guilty were sentenced immediately, while those who entered not guilty pleas had their cases adjourned to specific dates for trial.
This session saw twenty-eight individuals facing charges for a range of criminal offences, including treason, misprision of treason, conspiracy, murder, larceny (house and office breaking), unlawful possession of drugs, and possession of small arms without a license.
Unlawful possession of drugs emerged as the most prevalent offence, with eight cases involving nine accused persons. Other notable cases included six files related to various forms of larceny, one case of treason and misprision of treason involving two accused persons, two cases of illegal possession of small arms, three murder cases, and one case of obtaining money by false pretence.
Among those convicted, 38-year-old Samuel Conteh received a three-year prison sentence for housebreaking and larceny, effective from August 15, 2024.
Junior Frank Lewis was sentenced to seven years for larceny. Mohamed Lamin Conteh and Osman Jalloh, jointly charged with unlawful possession of drugs, were each sentenced to six years in prison, while Musa Samura received a seven-year jail term for the same offence.
Other convicts, including Tejan Deen Conteh, Ibrahim Sorie Kamara, Michael Kanu, Chernor Conteh, and Aruna Turay, were also sentenced accordingly for their respective crimes.
The High Court Criminal Session, held four times annually, provides an opportunity for individuals indicted for serious offences to have their cases heard.
This session underscores the judiciary’s commitment to addressing criminal activities and ensuring justice is served. The proceedings will continue as the remaining cases are scheduled for trial in the coming weeks.
