By Alimatu Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone – High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Alfred T. Ganda, has concluded the opening session of the January 2025 High Court Criminal Calendar with 10 convictions out of 21 criminal cases. This session, known as the “Call Over,” allows the Presiding Judge to take pleas from all accused persons committed for trial by Magistrates’ Courts or those with indictments preferred with a Judge’s consent.
The Presiding Judge proceeds to sentencing for those who plead guilty, while cases with a not guilty plea are adjourned for trial. Twenty-eight accused persons appeared in court for various criminal offences, including treason and misprision of treason, conspiracy, murder, larceny (house & office breaking), unlawful possession of drugs, and possession of small arms without a license.
Unlawful possession of drugs topped the list of offences, with eight cases involving nine accused persons. Additionally, six files with eleven accused persons were indicted for various forms of larceny, one case involving two accused persons for treason and misprision of treason, two cases for possession of small arms without a license, three files for murder, and a case of obtaining money by false pretence.
Among the convictions, 38-year-old Samuel Conteh pleaded guilty to housebreaking and larceny and was sentenced to three years imprisonment starting from August 15, 2024. Junior Frank Lewis was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for larceny. Mohamed Lamin Conteh and Osman Jalloh were jointly charged with unlawful possession of drugs and sentenced to six years imprisonment each, while Musa Samura received a seven-year jail term for the same offence. Tejan Deen Conteh, Ibrahim Sorie Kamara, Michael Kanu, Chernor Conteh, and Aruna Turay were also convicted and sentenced accordingly.
The High Court Criminal Session, held four times a year, provides an opportunity for accused persons to have their cases heard and resolved. The recent session marks a significant step in the judicial process, ensuring that justice is served.