The Presiding Magistrate of the Mile 91 Magistrate Court, His Worship Harold Kamara, on Monday, November 10, 2025, committed Ibrahim Abdallaha Conteh to the High Court of Sierra Leone for allegedly murdering his neighbour, Pa Amidu, in Kumrabai Matuku village, Kholifa Mabang, in the northeast region.

According to the particulars of offence, on September 13, 2025, Conteh allegedly beheaded Pa Amidu and buried the body on his farm. Due to the indictable nature of the offence, the court conducted committal proceedings against the accused.

The prosecution was required to adduce sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case for Conteh to stand trial before the High Court. During the proceedings, the prosecution tendered written statements from ten witnesses, which the accused cross-examined in person. The prosecution also submitted a list of witnesses and statements, including that of the accused, which they intend to rely on during trial.

In her written statement (marked Exhibit A1–A9), the first prosecution witness, Aminata Gbla the daughter of the deceased stated that Conteh had invited her father to assist him in scaring birds from his farm. When the deceased failed to return home, she reported the matter to the Town Chief, who organised a search party.

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During the search, she said the team approached Conteh’s farm, where he attempted to prevent their entry. A dog accompanying the group began digging, and they perceived a decomposing odour. They eventually discovered a buried human body wearing the same clothes last seen on the deceased. Conteh reportedly fled the scene but was later apprehended.

The third prosecution witness (Exhibit D1–D3) stated that he was present when Conteh struck the deceased on the neck with a cutlass while the deceased was seated smoking. He added that Conteh tied the deceased’s hands and feet, cut off his head, removed his eyes and nose, and buried the body on his farm.

The witness further said he ran to the village to report the matter but was initially not believed until the body was discovered. The fourth prosecution witness, Alusine Koroma (Exhibit E1–E3), corroborated that he was part of the search team that discovered the decomposed body on Conteh’s farm.

Other witnesses, including Amadu Sankoh, Mayillah Kamara, Moses Sankoh, James Peter, Abass Bangura, Alie Bangura, and Brima Koroma, also gave consistent accounts of the discovery of the body and Conteh’s attempt to obstruct the search.

The prosecution tendered several exhibits, including the accused’s charge statement (Exhibit 01–02), the State Counsel’s written advice, and photographs of the deceased’s body and the exhumation site.

In his ruling, Magistrate Kamara noted that the purpose of the committal proceeding was not to determine guilt or innocence but to establish whether sufficient prima facie evidence existed for a reasonable tribunal to convict the accused if the evidence remained unchallenged at the High Court.

He ruled that the evidence implicated Conteh as the principal actor in the killing and that the discovery of the body on his farm, coupled with his obstruction during the search, pointed to his culpability. Magistrate Kamara therefore committed Conteh to the High Court to stand trial for murder and ordered his remand at the Moyamba Correctional Centre pending further proceedings, unless granted bail by the High Court.