27 Rioters Sentenced to 8 Months in Prison

27 accused persons; Alusine Kargbo, Unissa Kamara, Amza Kamara, Momoh Bangura, Santigie Conteh, Adikalie Kamara, Mohamed Ibrahim Kamara, Daniel Tamba Fornah, Abdul Kanu Ibrahim Thomas and seventeen others were on Friday, April 8, 2022, sentenced to eight months in prison after they made their third appearance before Magistrate Sahr Keikura of Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown on three counts of riotous conducts.

They were charged with riotous conduct, disorderly behavior and Throwing missiles contrary to law.

According to the particulars of offence, on Monday, March 28, 2022 within the Freetown municipality, the accused persons behaved in a riotous manner; while on count two behaved in a disorderly manner; and on count three they were found throwing missiles.

These charges were read and explained to all

The accused persons pleaded guilty after the charges were to them on their first appearance.

The lead counsel for the accused persons, Lawyer M. Berete Nicol said the accused persons didn’t waste the time of the court and  pleaded with  the Bench to caution and discharge them, adding that   they are first-time offenders.

Prior to their sentence,  Superintendent of Police Isatu Gbassy Fofanah led in evidence prosection witness number one, Sergeant 8576 Issa Kamara attached to the exhibit office at the Criminal Investigation Department  Headquarters on Pademba Road in Freetown.

He recalled that on March 29, 2022 Sergeant 8709 Kamara I S attached at CID headquarters handed over to him two old motorbike with registration number ATA 254 and AQO 402 and a key, adding that the said exhibits were registered against their court register book on RCE 50/2022 and has since been in their custody.

 The exhibits were tendered in court.

However, Magistrate Kekura said having pleaded guilty on all three counts and taken into consideration the plea in mitigation on their behalf and also not losing sight of the fact that these offences are now on the increase in Sierra Leone, he sentenced each accused persons to eight months in prison. The accused persons should also pay a fine of Le250,000 to the State. The Magistrate ordered that the two motorbikes be forfeited to the state.

By Alimatu Jalloh