Magistrate Joseph Tobby has sent Lansana Kallon a businessman, aged 46 years, and Mustapha Sesay, aged 56 years to jail for two years or pay a fine of Le 20,000,000 each. The duo undertook mining activities within a Dam in the Kambui Hills, in Kenema without a Valid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license contrary to Section 23 of the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) Act 2008. The two accused persons were illicit mining contrary to CAP 196 of 1960 and for undertaking mining activities within the Kombui Hills without Valid EIA License. The two accused pleaded guilty and begged for mercy on both counts. The court acquitted and discharged them on court one, but sent them to Jail for two years or pay Le 20,000,000 each on count two.
In his ruling, Magistrate Tobby told the court that if the Accused had been foreigners, they would have paid a fine of $12,000 each.
Mining gold and diamonds, and extracting gravel and sand from the SALWACO water treatment plant at the Kambui Hills in Kenema are prohibited. He advised that there should be regular patrol of the security personnel and forest guards to observe the operations within and around the water catchment and the SALWACO Dam.
The matter was prosecuted by Inspector A.M. Teh attached to the Legal and justice support Department of the Kenema police station.
By Mohamed Mansaray in Kenema
12/10/2020. ISSUE NO: 7928