By Fatima Kpaka
Justice Alusine Sesay of the High Court of Sierra Leone has, when presiding over the call over of 43 accused persons on Tuesday 19th September, urged Jurors to be dedicated, cooperative and steadfast in their duty to determine the outcome of cases in court.
There and about, after making this statement, he also ordered bench warrants to be issued on 97 out of a total of 215 Jurors who were absent, and dissuaded Prison officials from the habit of conveying accused person to court late, which according to him has the potential of effecting expeditious trials.
Out of the 43 criminal cases for this September, 10 are sexual penetration cases-the highest, 7 store breaking and larceny, 5 wounding with intent, 4 robbery, 1 murder, two manslaughter, 4 house breaking and larceny, 4 office breaking and larceny, 1 human trafficking, 2 shop breaking and larceny and other related offenses.
During the proceedings 24-year-old Alhaji Idrissa, alias Cartel, pleaded guilty to the offense of store breaking in 2022, during which he carted away with building materials from his neighbor worth over Le 20, 000, 000.
He could face a maximum sentence of 13 years and a minimum of 3 years in jail for such an offense. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment, inclusive of the time he had already spent in prison.
One Abu Bakarr Kamara, who also pleaded guilty on the charges of burglary and larceny in 2022 and catered away with assorted items worth 17, 180 new Leones from Ibrahim Sesay, was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment inclusive of time he had spent in prison.
One Mbalu Kamara was arraigned on three charges including human trafficking, and he pleaded not guilty to the offenses.
It was alleged by the state that the accused on the 30th of September 2022 at Ferry Terminal Kissy Dockyard, in Freetown deceived Alie Fofanah from Portee Wharf for the purpose of exploitation in Guinea Bissau.
Justice Alusine Sesay assigned this matter to Justice Bosco Allieu for trial.