Lamin Kargbo, a 31-year-old man, has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of robbing Emmanuel Sesay at knife-point, brutally assaulting him, and causing grievous bodily harm.

The incident occurred on Tuesday, 16th May 2023, at Rogbagba in Waterloo, on the outskirts of Freetown, Sierra Leone.

The court heard that on the said date, Lamin Kargbo, along with four accomplices, accosted Emmanuel Sesay and his wife, Musu Charles, when they arrived at Rogbagba on a motorbike. After informing someone named Chernor of their arrival, the couple was approached by five men, one of whom accused Emmanuel of being their target. Without hesitation, the assailants violently attacked Emmanuel, taking his infinite mobile phone hot 20, an LG mobile phone, an old Bluetooth device, his driving license, and a sum of NLe7,340, amounting to a total of NLe11,890.

The prosecution’s witness, Musu Charles, testified that she was present during the incident and witnessed the horrifying attack on her husband. According to her account, one of the attackers brandished a pair of scissors, prompting Emmanuel to flee, but the assailants pursued him relentlessly. Despite the brave attempt of a person named Chernor to intervene, the culprits managed to flee the scene with the stolen belongings.

Following the attack, Musu Charles and Emmanuel Sesay reported the incident to the Hastings Police Station on the outskirts of Freetown, where a statement was recorded.

Lamin Kargbo was subsequently arrested on 3rd June 2023 by Detective Sergeant 5515 Kamara and brought before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No. 1. The charges brought against him included robbery with violence, wounding, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, all of which are serious offenses under the laws of Sierra Leone.

During cross-examination, the accused attempted to challenge the witness’s account by claiming that he was the sixth person involved in the incident, not the fifth. However, the evidence presented by Musu Charles and other testimonies provided by witnesses led to his conviction.

On the matter of bail, Magistrate Sahr Kekura refused bail for Lamin Kargbo and ordered him to be remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.

The case has been adjourned to 18th July 2023 for further proceedings