The Judiciary of Sierra Leone has initiated a two-week court session in Mattru Jong, Bonthe District, Southern Province, marking the start of the October High Court Criminal Session.

The session, led by Hon. Justice Abdulai M. Bangura (JSC), is part of the Judiciary’s efforts to address criminal cases in areas without Resident High Court Judges, as provided for by the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.

Justice Bangura, addressing litigants and jurors, emphasized the importance of timely justice for accused persons, stressing that prolonged delays in trials violate legal rights.

He urged cooperation among all parties in the criminal justice system, including the Law Officers, Legal Aid Board, Police, and jurors, to ensure the smooth progression of cases and reduce backlogs.

The Bonthe session is handling 74 cases, including serious offenses such as murder, manslaughter, sexual penetration, rape, robbery, and larceny.

Among the cases, 36-year-old Amara Mbayo pleaded not guilty to sexual penetration of a child, while several other accused persons pleaded guilty to charges ranging from larceny to wounding with intent.

State Counsel Ballah Sesay is prosecuting the cases, with defense provided by Legal Aid Board lawyer Abu Kuntar Jawara. The sessions are expected to continue into the next week, with significant progress anticipated on the pending cases.