By Richmond B. Tholley
The resident High Court Judge for Bombali District, Honourable Justice Abu Bakarr Sannoh, is currently presiding over forty-five (45) criminal cases in the northern town of Magburaka, Tonkolili District, and has granted bail to six accused persons.
These proceedings mark the beginning of a two-week session of the High Court 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 before 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.
A total of 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 pretenses, 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 years, and 29-year-old Amara Bangura Gold Miner, who were charged with larceny. Also, Ibrahim Bundu, 36, a mechanic (charged with larceny), Edmond Koroma, 21, alias “69” (charged with burglary), and 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, were among those granted bail.
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.
