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Nineteen inmates, including a 71-year-old pastor and several other elderly prisoners, have been acquitted and discharged from the Pademba Road Correctional Centre.
The releases were ordered by Hon. Justice Alusine Sesay JSC, as part of a special Prison Court initiative under the ongoing judicial reforms spearheaded by Chief Justice Komba Kamanda.
The program is supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The decisions followed a comprehensive review of 115 inmate cases. These included five cases with reserved judgments, 33 cases stalled due to prolonged High Court adjournments, and 35 similar cases at the Magistrate’s Courts. The review also encompassed ten inmates serving life sentences, 32 convicted at Magistrate’s Courts, ten elderly inmates aged 60 and above, and two physically challenged individuals.
Justice Sesay particularly focused on the elderly inmates, many of whom were suffering from health issues, as confirmed by medical reports. He ordered the acquittal and discharge of five elderly individuals: Abu Bakarr Kamara (66), Rev. James Sapato Fornah (71), Munda Lansana (76), Yusuf Abass (71), and Lahai Shegbena (73).
Additionally, Justice Sesay ordered the release of Albert Momoh, Alfred Sullay Momoh, John Junior Kamara, and eleven other inmates, citing time already served.
Alfred Sullay Momoh, an inmate who had been serving a life sentence, pleaded for leniency, telling the court, “My Lord, we are pleading for you to temper justice with mercy. We have spent half of our lives behind bars. We’ve been transformed and are confident in our ability to contribute meaningfully to national development if released.”
Before their release, Justice Sesay acknowledged their good conduct records within the prison. He urged them to avoid crime and become productive members of society.
For inmates charged with illegal possession of drugs, Justice Sesay ruled against granting bail but directed magistrates to expedite their cases, applying the same urgency to those with outstanding judgments.
