The Legal Aid Board (LAB) over the past two weeks secured the discharge of 19 accused persons from High court sittings in Freetown presided over by the Acting Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Nicholas Browne-Marke.
The 19 accused persons include Alhassan Bangura, Mohamed Lamin Gobba, Alex Kamara, Alusine Conteh, Sheka Kamara, Foday Koroma, Alpha Koroma, Foday Mansaray alias Rap Jay, Komba Fomba, Alusine Sesay, Ibrahim Kamara, Alhassan Marrah, Daniel Conteh, Mustapha Kargbo, Amadu Samba, Alhassan Conteh, Sulaiman Kamara, Ballay Kamara and Alie Conteh were released by the court between October 7 and 21, 2024. Three of the 19 were acquitted whilst the remaining sixteen were discharged for want of prosecution.
This brings to twenty-six the total number of accused persons represented by the Board who were acquitted and discharged at the High Court in Freetown since the commencement of the September Criminal Session.
The accused persons were arraigned on multiple offences ranging from conspiracy, robbery with aggravation; wounding with intent; fraudulent conversion; shop breaking and larceny among others.
In her usual post discharge briefing to released clients, the Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, admonished them to work hard and be content with what they make for a living. She advised them not to get involved in anything that would land them in trouble with the police. She said struggling to make a living is no excuse for involvement in crime.
Ms. Carlton-Hanciles sighted as an example the deaf and dumb at Sani Abacha Street in central Freetown, who even though disabled do not resort to begging or stealing in the name of fighting for survival but rather do lowly paid jobs such as carrying goods for market women. She urged them to go back to their communities and be good contributors to their development.
She hailed the Acting Chief Justice for dispensing justice in a fair and speedy manner and assured of the Board’s continued commitment in ensuring that indigent accused persons are represented in the courts.
Speaking to one of the beneficiaries, Alusine Conteh, who was arraigned on conspiracy and shop breaking and larceny charges but was acquitted and discharge, expressed gratitude to the Board for its intervention, adding that he was pleased with the outcome of his matter. He assured the Board of his commitment to remain peaceful and law-abiding citizen.
The beneficiaries were represented by Legal Aid Counsels, Cecilia Tucker; Ibrahim Samba and Cyril Taylor-Younge.
In another development, the Board’s resident lawyer for Kono district, Counsel Alpha O. Kamara, has over the past few days secured the release of six accused persons from the Sefadu Magistrate Court in Koidu City presided over by Magistrate Joseph Tobby.
The clients include Alusine Sesay; Fengai Gborie; Alimamy Kuyateh; Hawa Sesay; Aminata Momoh and Chernor Adia Sow who was charged with a one-count charge of threatening to kill.