The Legal Aid Board secured the acquittal and discharge of its clients, Police Officer Mohamed Sofian Kargbo who had been charged with murder. The incident took place at the Pampana River in the Tonkolili District headquarter town of Magburakaon 4th July 2021. He started receiving legal assistance from the Board at that point until the conclusion of the matter.
The accused made his first appearance at the Magistrate Court in Makeni on the 27 July 2021. The matter was committed to the High Court on 5th August 2021 and the accused made his first appearance at the High Court in Makeni on September 21 of the same year.He received a unanimous verdict of not guilty by the jury and as a consequence was acquitted and discharged by Justice Unisa Kamaraon 11 November 2021.
The accused was represented by Legal Aid Counsels Mohamed Korie and Ibrahim Samba. ‘It was a difficult case, but we mounted a strong defence and it paid off at the end of the day,’ Counsel Korie who doubles as National Supervisor said.
Mohamed who is attached to the Operations Support Division (OSD)Magburaka Division of the Sierra Leone was suspended from the police to help with investigation into the following offences he is alleged to have committed: Discharging a firearm without just cause contrary to Paragraph 9 Rules 41 of the Police Discipline Regulation 2001; failing to comply with any standing order issued by the Inspector General of Police contrary to Paragraph 9 Rules 43 of the Police Discipline Regulation 2001 and conduct that is prejudicial to good order and discipline contrary to Paragraph 9 Rule 47 of the Police Discipline Regulation 2001.
He was charged with murder following investigation by the Regional Complaints, Discipline, Internal Investigations Department (CDIID) office for the North-East.
Mohamed has expressed a willingness to return to the police and has called on the Legal Aid Board to help him achieve this dream. ‘I think our client deserves a second chance and the fact that he was found innocent will strengthen our argument for his reinstatement,’ the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles noted. ‘He has gone through a lot already, we should now focus on rehabilitating him and reinstating him into the police force is without doubt an important first step.’