By Politico Staff Writer
In order to conclude the official High Court Call Over in view of opening of the criminal calendar, 43 criminal cases have been brought before the court, marking the beginning of the September 2023 criminal session.
The judicial session was held at the main Law Courts Building in Freetown on the 19th of September 2023.
The cases that were brought before the court were Murder, Manslaughter, Conspiracy, Robbery with Aggravation, Larceny, House Breaking, Sexual Penetration, Wounding with Intent and Dangerous Driving, among others.
During the session, Justice Alusine Sesay sentenced 16 convicts accordingly for various offences for which they pleaded guilty and discharged one Abdul Karim Kargbo who had died at the Correctional Centre for the offence of Robbery with Violence.
Ishmael Bendu a 23-year-old driver was convicted of the offence of Motor Manslaughter and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment including time spent on remand after he pleaded guilty to killing Victor Mansaray.
He was alleged to have been the driver, who was in control of a Mercedes Benz truck with registration number AUQ-837 on the 18th of January, 2023 that unlawfully, killed Victor.
A 32-year-old Driver, Mohamed Bangura was also convicted of the offence of Motor Manslaughter for which he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment including time spent on remand after he pleaded guilty to killing Francis Selenga.
He was admitted to have been the motor bike rider in control of the bike with registration number ATP-826 who on the 22nd of April 2023 in Freetown “unlawfully killed Francis.”
Also, another 24-year-old Mason Alhaji Idrissa Alias “Kartel” who pleaded to a count charge of store breaking and Larceny was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment including time spent on remand.
According to the particulars of offence the convicts broke and entered the store of Howard Kumasi having building materials and carted away 50 Bags of Cement all valued at NLe20,050 (Twenty Thousand and Fifty Leones) being the property of Howard Kumasi on the 10th August 2022 in Freetown.
The 'High Court Call Over' looks into cases which have gone through preliminary investigations at the Magistrate Courts and committed to the High Court for trials. It also looks into fresh indictments from the Law Officer's Department for onward assignment to various judges.
The cases were prosecuted by a team from the Law Officers Department headed by Lawyer A. J. M. Bockarie while the accused persons were defended by lawyers from Legal Aid Board headed by Cecilia Tucker.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (22/09/23)
