Appeal Court Judge, Justice Ansumana Ivan Sesay, has affirmed that the court will begin taking strict action against jurors who absent themselves from court sittings.

The judge expressed his dissatisfaction during the opening of the May High Court Criminal Sessions on Monday morning at the Main Law Court Building in Freetown.

Justice Sesay stated that the court will begin sending such jurors to Male and Female Correctional Centres. During the call-over, the judge promised to issue a bench warrant for absent jurors to be arrested before Wednesday.

“All of those who are absent, I’m going to issue a bench warrant for them,” the Appeal Court Judge said.

According to Awoko Newspaper, Alpha Conteh from the National Fire Force, Alusine Kargbo from the Ministry of Information, Bailor Sow from the Ministry of Local Government, and Abubakarr Bah from the Ministry of Trade were among the jurors who were absent on Monday.

The importance of jurors in Sierra Leone’s criminal law is significant as cases related to capital offences are usually tried by judges and juries.