Supreme Court Judge presiding over the October Criminal Session in Bonthe District, in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, Hon. Justice Abdulai M. Bangura (JSC) has sentenced fifteen (15) convicts for various offences.

The fifteen cases are part of thirty three (33) completed files from among seventy-nine (79) that were being adjudicated during the just concluded two-week court session in the district.

Amidu Sheku who pleaded guilty to the offence of Wounding with Intent upon his arraignment, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment. Ibrahim Senesie was also convicted and sentenced to 10 months imprisonment each on a two-count charge of wounding, with both sentences to run concurrently.

Also, Alimamy Mansaray and David Cole were both convicted of the offence of Conspiracy to commit Larceny and Killing Cattle and were both sentenced to two years imprisonment each.
Munda Bangalie who pleaded guilty to the offence of Fraudulent Conversion was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment. Following his conviction of the offence of House Breaking and Larceny, Morrison Amara was also sentenced to 22 months imprisonment.

Sallu Koroma, who agreed to have fraudulently converted to his own use money given to him for the purchase of over sixty bags of Garri was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment and ordered to pay the sum of NLe 20,000 as compensation to the complainant.

Nabieu Bendu who was convicted of the offence of Larceny in Dwelling House was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment. Alpha Gobeh, who was tried for the offence of House Breaking and Larceny and convicted, was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment.

Aruna Feika was convicted of the offence of Wounding with Intent and was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment. Mohamed Sheriff and Karim Sheriff who both pleaded guilty to the offence of Larceny were both sentenced to 12 months imprisonment each.

Mannah Bockarie, a resident of the district who pleaded guilty to the offence of Sexual Penetration was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. Mussa Kargbo who was equally convicted of the same offence was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment, while Alicious Momodu Mbayoh received a sentence of 10 years imprisonment for the same offence.

The High Court Criminal Sessions is provided for by the Criminal Procedure Act 1965, Act No. 32 of 1965 and aimed at taking the plea of accused persons committed for trial by Magistrates’ Court and those whose indictments were proffered with the consent in writing of a judge. The special session also looks into pending matters before the court.

he matters were prosecuted by State Counsel, Ballah Sesay and the accused persons defended by Abu Kuntar Jawara from the Legal Aid Board.

The session in the district ended with significant progress made on the matters before the court.