The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Sierra Leone Judiciary, Moses Kamara has provided insight into Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray’s bench warrant of arrest as issued by the Court of Appeal.

Mansaray, who was removed as leader of the opposition Alliance Democratic Party (ADP) after he was found guilty of sexual penetration of a minor, was sentenced to a lengthy prison term after his conviction.

During an online interview at the Liberty Breakfast Show, the Sierra Leone Judiciary PRO shed light on the Sierra Leone Sexual Offence Law; he explained, “According to the sentencing guidelines if you’re convicted for penetrating a child, and you’re above the age of 23 years, the minimum sentence is 15 years.”

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So what the judge did, according to Moses Kamara, for all the counts on which Mohamed Kamarainba was found guilty, he was sentenced 15 years for each, although he was not required to run the sentences, seperately, but Kamara confirmed that if Kamarainba completes one 15 year’s sentence, he would be free from all the other count charges.

Kamara admitted that both the accused nor his surety, Isha Baby Mansaray were present in court when the matter was held on Thursday, February 20, 2025.

The Judiciary PRO said, “the Judges were there, the state council was there, the State Lawyers were there, but the accused, his lawyer, and his surety were not there.”

Kamara continued that rule 53 of the court appeal is very clear, stating that if someone takes an appeal to the court, the individual presence should be felt until the completion of the appeal, and if the individual is not present, will lead to a bench warrant. Meaning the court will issue

an arrest for Kamarainba.

Because of the absence of Kamarainba, his lawyer and his surety, the PRO stated that the state lawyers applied for a warrant of arrest, and by law, he said the court granted the state lawyers warrant of arrest for Mohamed Kamarainba and his surety, Isha Babay Mansaray.

Meanwhile, Kamara said he is unaware of the location of Kamarainba.  “I don’t know his whereabouts, but the fact is that he has a warrant of arrest given by the court of appeal,” he concluded.