The Legal Aid Board (LAB) lawyers represented forty-one accused persons including two juveniles in separate trials in Freetown, Bo and Kabala between October 22 and November 18, 2024.
Twenty-three of those represented were discharged in separate court sittings in Freetown including one presided over by the acting Chief Justice, His Lordship, Justice Nicholas Browne-Marke. Thirteen were released in Kabala by Justice A.M Bangura and the remaining five were released in Bo.
Sarah, not her real name, was a juvenile that was set free by Justice A.R Mansaray for want of prosecution after spending nearly six months at the Juvenile Remand Home at Kingtom in Freetown. Sarah was standing trial on charges of house breaking and larceny. She was seventeen years old at the time of her arrest in April 2024. She turned eighteen barely two months after her incarceration.
Upon her released, Sarah was counselled by the Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles and then handed over to a Correctional Service Warden for her to be reunited with her family at Matotoka in the Tonkolili district.
In her usual post discharge briefing for those released in Freetown, Ms. Carlton-Hanciles, admonished them to eschew violence and work hard for a living. She said crime in whatever form is bad and they must desist from it. She urged them to go back to their communities and be good contributors.
She assured the public of the Board’s continued commitment to ensuring that the poor and vulnerable are represented in the courts.
One of the clients, Samuel Spaine, of OKA Drive, Juba, who was acquitted and discharged on a two-count charge of conspiracy and store breaking and larceny, expressed gratitude to the Board for its intervention. Samuel added that he was pleased with the outcome of his matter and looks forward to reuniting with his family in Bo. He assured the Board of his commitment to remaining a peaceful and law abiding citizen.
Prior to their release, the clients were arraigned on multiple offences ranging from conspiracy, to robbery with aggravation; wounding with intent; fraudulent conversion; shop breaking and larceny.
In another development, the Board’s resident lawyer for Koinadugu district, Thanue Jalloh represented forty-one accused persons during the Kabala High Court session. These include thirteen that were set free and four granted bail.
The beneficiaries in Freetown were represented by Counsel Cecilia Tucker; Randy Bangura; and Abraham Kargbo, while those in Bo were represented by Counsel John Jack Harris.
Legal Aid Board Secures Discharge of 41 Accused Persons From Court Sittings In Freetown, Bo and Kabala
Freetown. The Legal Aid Board (LAB) has secured the discharge of forty-one accused persons including two juveniles from separate Court sittings held in Freetown, Bo and Kabala between Tuesday 22 October and Monday 18 November 2024.
Twenty-three of the beneficiaries were discharged in Freetown in separate court sittings including the one currently being held by the acting Chief Justice, His Lordship, Justice Nicholas Browne-Marke, while thirteen were freed in Kabala by Justice A.M Bangura and the remaining five were set free in Bo.
Those released in Freetown included Mamady Kuyateh; Martin Kamara; Alusine Musa Kamara; Samuel Kanu; Abu Bakarr Mansaray; John Alpha Bangura; Ibrahim Bangura; Samuel Spaine; Kofi Kwaasi; Sarah Turay, et al.
Sarah, not her real name, was a juvenile offender that was set free by Justice A.R Mansaray for want of prosecution after having spent barely six months at the Juvenile Remand Home at Kingtom. Prior to her release, Sarah was standing trial on charges of house breaking and larceny. She was seventeen years old at the time of her arrest in April 2024 but turned eighteen barely two months after her incarceration. Upon her released, Sarah was counselled by the Executive Director of the Board, Ms Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles and later handed over to a Correctional Service Warden for her to be reunited with her family at Matotoka, in the Tonkolili district.
In her usual post discharge briefing on those released in Freetown, Ms Carlton-Hanciles, admonished them to eschew violence and be content with what they have. She said thievery in whatever form is bad and they must desist from it. She urged them to go back to their communities and be good contributors.
She assured the public of the Board’s continued commitment in ensuring that the poor and vulnerable are represented in the courts.
Speaking to one of the beneficiaries, Samuel Spaine, of OKA Drive, Juba, who was acquitted and discharged of a two-count charge of conspiracy and store breaking and larceny, expressed gratitude to the Board for its intervention. Samuel added that he was pleased with the outcome of his matter and said he wants to go back and reunite with his family in Bo.
He assured the Board of his commitment to remain a peaceful and law abiding citizen.
Prior to their release, the beneficiaries were arraigned on multiple offences ranging from conspiracy, to robbery with aggravation; wounding with intent; fraudulent conversion; shop breaking and larceny, etc.
In another development, the Board’s resident lawyer for Koinadugu district, Counsel A.T Jalloh, during the Kabala High Court session also represented forty-one accused persons including the thirteen that were set free. Counsel Jalloh also secured bail for four others.
The beneficiaries in Freetown were represented by Counsel Cecilia Tucker; Randy Bangura; and Abraham Kargbo, while those in Bo were represented by Counsel John Jack Harrish.