In a recent court hearing at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, a sorcerer named John Sharia-law Conteh has been handed a five-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to the charge of unlawful possession of a human skull and bone.

Conteh, facing multiple charges, including possession of small arms, concealment of arms, practicing sorcery, and possession of instruments of sorcery, was found to be in violation of Sierra Leone’s laws.

According to the police report, Conteh was apprehended on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Five Mile Newton Waterloo, where he was discovered to be in possession of two short guns without a license. Additionally, the police alleged that he had several items associated with sorcery, including a human skull wrapped with red thread, a partially suspected human bone, an old aluminum chain, three bottles containing substances suspected to be native medicine herbs, a small calabash, a cup containing a red substance suspected to be human blood, a box containing red cloth, and a cap believed to be made of cobra skin.

During the court proceedings, Detective Sergeant 8576, Issa Kamara, the exhibit clerk attached to the CID HQ Pademba Road, testified that he received and registered the exhibits, which included the human skull, bone, chains, rings, bottles, calabash, knives, cup with suspected human blood, cup with grainy human bones, cobra skin, and an empty box. These exhibits were presented as evidence in court.

The prosecutor highlighted that on May 1, 2023, a group of herbalists, including their national president, visited Conteh’s residence, where they discovered the aforementioned exhibits. Subsequently, Conteh was arrested, taken into custody, and charged in court.

During the plea in mitigation, the defense counsel acknowledged that Conteh did not waste the court’s time and emphasized that he was a first-time offender. The defense requested leniency, highlighting that Conteh was the sole provider for his family.

Despite the defense’s plea, Magistrate Mark Ngegba handed down a sentence of 12 months of imprisonment for each count, with the sentences to run concurrently.

This conviction and sentencing serve as a stern reminder of the legal consequences individuals face when engaging in unlawful possession and practices associated with sorcery. Sierra Leone’s legal system continues to uphold the law to deter such activities and promote a safe society.