By Abass Jalloh
Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown has sentenced Abu Bakarr Conteh, Hassan Bangura, James Kamara, Saidu Kamara, Haja Kadiatu Kalokoh, and Hassanatu Carew to 18 months in prison and fined NLe 1,500 (one thousand five hundred Leones) after being found guilty of committing two public order offences during the August 10 anti-government protest in Sierra Leone.
All sentences and fines are to run concurrently, the magistrate stated yesterday October 11 while delivering his ruling.
The four men and two women were charged with Riotous Conduct and Disorderly Behaviour contrary to section 7 of the 1965 Public Order Act of No. 46.
On count one, court records show that the accused on Wednesday 10th August 2022 in the central district of Freetown behaved in a riotous manner, while count two states that on the same date and place they behaved in a disorderly manner.
The prosecution, led by Sergeant Dwight Macarthy, presented 10 witnesses during the course of the matter.
After the ruling, the prosecutor stated that he relied on the evidence and ruling of the magistrate and that the required punishment is given to the accused.
In his plea, Defense Lawyer Gbatundu Kutubu, representing the second accused, asked that the accused be pardoned, and stating that he was a first-time offender who has been struggling with poor health conditions.
But magistrate Ngeba remained steadfast. And ordered that they all serve time. Some women relatives of the convicts reacted outside the courtroom to the sentencing with sobbing, as the prisoners were escorted by the correctional officers into the truck, taking them to prison.
The August 10 violent protests in some parts of the country left 31 people dead, 6 of them Police Officers. The Government has since set up a Committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the protests.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (12/10/22)
