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The High Court of Sierra Leone commenced its May 2025 Criminal Calendar on May 21, 2025, with a call over of forty-eight criminal cases presided over by Honourable Justice Augustine K. Musa.
The session is focused on taking pleas from individuals committed for trial by Magistrates’ Courts, as well as those with indictments approved by a Judge.
During the initial session, seventeen accused individuals pleaded guilty to various offences, with seven of them admitting to unlawful possession of drugs.
Among those convicted was Sallay Kanu, a mother of six, who was charged with possessing 2.1 kilograms of Cannabis Sativa. Kanu explained to the court that her intentions were medicinal, as her eldest daughter suffers from asthma and had been advised to use the drug.
In addition to Kanu, Saffie Fornah and Magaret Bockeria faced separate charges for possessing 30.0 kilograms of Kush, while Alfred Aminu and Abdulia Kamara were found with 40.0 kilograms each. Alpha Sesay was also charged for having 30.3 kilograms of Kush. All pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of drugs.
Defence Lawyer Cyril Taylor-Younge argued in mitigation that the convicts are young and have not wasted the court’s time or resources. He emphasized that they have learned valuable lessons and would be useful members of society if granted clemency.
Justice Musa acknowledged the growing concern regarding unlawful drug possession in the country, stressing the Judiciary’s responsibility to address the issue promptly. He sentenced all individuals convicted of unlawful drug possession to five years in prison, including time already served in correctional facilities.
In a separate case, Mousa Sewa faced murder charges related to the death of Massah Massaquoi but pleaded not guilty upon his arraignment. Furthermore, three individuals- Hussein Anter, Jamal Antar, and Sulaiman Barrie, were jointly charged with a thirty-two count indictment regarding conspiracy related to anti-money laundering laws, to which they also pleaded not guilty.
Another case involved Augustine Momoh, charged with burglary and larceny. He pleaded guilty, and due to health concerns, was sentenced to time served. Mohamed Sesay, charged with conspiracy to commit housebreaking and larceny, received a similar sentence.
Pastor Fatoma Tommy Jusu was also sentenced to five years in prison or an alternative fine of fifty thousand Leone for operating a private security service without a valid license.
The State was represented by Lawyer Yusuf Isaac Sesay and his team from the Law Officers’ Department, while the accused individuals were defended by Lawyer Cecilia Tucker and her team from the Legal Aid Board.
