Judiciary Communications, Ross Road Magistrate’s Court No. 3, Freetown, 11th October 2022: Magistrate Hadiru Daboh has sentenced fourteen (14) accused persons to a maximum jail term of eighteen (18) months with a fine of five thousand Leones (NLe. 5,000) to the Government of Sierra Leone.
The 14 accused persons were brought on two counts of Riotous Conduct, contrary to Section 12(a) of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965, and Disorderly Behaviour, contrary to Section 12(a) of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965.
Today’s judgment is in respect of a Criminal Summons dated the 5th day of September 2022 filed for and on behalf of the Inspector General of Police against fourteen accused persons for offenses committed on 10th August 2022 against the Government and people of Sierra Leone.
In prosecuting this matter, the Prosecution brought five witnesses. PW 1- Abubakarr Mohamed Kamara testified as one of the arresting officers attached to the Operations Division of Ross Road Police Station, PW2- Sumaila Ismail, PW3- Mohamed Lamin Bangura, PW4 -Tamba Cyprus Marrah, and PW5- Alfred Conteh all testified as Investigators in this matter.
“In a whole, their testimonies in Chief appeared to be credible and consistent with the facts that the accused persons were arrested in a public place conducting themselves in a riotous and disorderly manner to the discomfort of peaceful Sierra Leoneans, with reckless songs against the Government,” said Magistrate Daboh. He added that, “the riots caused the lives of innocent Civilians and Law Enforcement officers who were standing in the gap to control the disorderliness.”
The Defence team on behalf of the accused persons elected to rely on their testimonies from the police station. In those testimonies, they all denied the allegations.
Addressing the Court, Magistrate Hadiru Daboh said the Court is sure that the Prosecution has proven a case on a high probability against the accused persons.
“Their actions on the 10th August, 2022 could be defined as cruel, reckless, barbaric, malicious, and a stark product of incitement against the Government,” he affirmed, stating further that, “they are therefore found guilty on both counts, and to preserve society of recurrence of such, the accused are sentenced to the maximum jail term of eighteen months on each count, same to be served concurrently.”
According to Magistrate Hadiru Daboh, the court must be seen as safe haven for both citizens and the government.
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