By Alimatu Jalloh
Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.1 on Monday, December 19,, 2022 sentenced 43 convicts to prison after he found them guilty of committing various offences during the violent protests on August 10 in Freetown. Twelve accused persons were discharged.
The accused persons were under trial on 21 counts including riotous conduct, disorderly behavior, malicious damage, insulting conduct, throwing missiles and loitering contrary to law.
According to the particulars of offences, on Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at various locations in Freetown, the accused Mabinty Bangura, Mohamed Jalloh, Kadiatu Kamara, Osman Junior Kamara, Maseray Bangura, Kadiatu Bangura, Mohamed Kargbo and 48 others did behave in a riotous and disorderly manner.
They were on same day found throwing missiles and loitering within Freetown, according to the police.
The defendants were also accused of damaging K-Step Police post, Kissy Police Post, Congo Water Police post, Approved School Police Post, Wellington Police Post, amongst others.
In his ruling, Magistrate Ngegba said the prosecution had proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt by providing all necessary elements of the offences charged.
He therefore disclosed that the prosecution led 10 witnesses.
He furthered that 41 witnesses testified for the Defense, while the 20th, 21st, 22nd, 31st, 33rd, 44th, 50th, 54th accused did not testified, and relied on the statements they made to the police.
According to Magistrate Ngegba, the evidence adduced before the Court for the 54th, 10th, 13th, 28th,19th, 37th, 55th, 48th, 34th, 36th, 40th and 29th accused were not convincing to found them guilty, while he found 43 accused persons guilty for the offences charged.
In his plea mitigation, Defence Counsel Musa Baraytay Esq. pleaded with the Bench to temper justice with mercy.
He said the convicts were first-time offender, urging the Bench not to pass a custodian sentence to his clients.
The learned lawyer reiterated that the custodian sentence would affect their wellbeing, noting that they have been in custody for about five months, and that they have learned their lesson.
Magistrate Ngegba without wasting time, sentenced the convicts to serve a jail term of 24 month on the offence of malicious damage, 18 months for the offence of riotous conduct, 12 months for the offence of disorderly behavior, while 6 month for the offences of throwing missiles and loitering.
He noted that the jail term must run concurrently.