By Alimatu Jalloh
Magburaka Town, Tonkolili District, Northern Sierra Leone, 25th February 2025: The Resident High Court Judge for Bombali District, Honourable Justice Abu Bakarr Sannoh, is currently presiding over forty-five (45) criminal cases in Magburaka Town, Tonkolili District. In a significant development, Justice Sannoh has granted bail to six accused persons.
These proceedings mark the beginning of a two-week High Court session in the district and its surrounding areas, aimed at enhancing access to justice by deploying judges to locations where there are currently no resident High Court judges.
In an address prior to the commencement of the court session, Hon. Justice Sannoh emphasized that speedy access to justice is an essential mechanism for enforcing rights and obligations and therefore crucial in any democratic state. He expressed confidence that, with the cooperation of all parties involved, the session would achieve its intended outcomes.
Fifty-five (55) accused persons are appearing before the court regarding various offenses, including arson, wounding with intent, burglary, conspiracy, trespass, obtaining money by false pretense, and various forms of larceny.
Among those arraigned, 25-year-old motorbike rider Michael Turay, alias “White Boy,” and 23-year-old gold miner Ishmael Sesay pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and office breaking and larceny, respectively. Turay, facing three counts of burglary, was sentenced to time already served since his arrest in 2023, while Sesay received a two-year jail term effective from the date of his arrest in 2023.
Additionally, Hon. Justice Sannoh granted bail to several accused individuals, including Amidu Bangura, age 25, and Amara Bangura, age 29, both charged with larceny. Also granted bail were Ibrahim Bundu, 36, a mechanic charged with larceny; Edmond Koroma, 21, alias “69,” charged with burglary; Kekura Kamara, 28, an excavator operator facing four counts of burglary and one count of possessing burglary tools; and Zion Tamba Sheku, charged with fraudulent conversion.
The prosecution of these matters is being led by State Counsel J. A. K. Sesay, with the accused persons represented by Mr. Osman Kamara.
The court sessions are scheduled to conclude on the 1st of March 2025.