By John S. Conteh
The High Court Criminal Session at Mongo Bendugu town commenced for the first time since the boundary delimitation exercise which made Falaba a separate district from Koinadugu.
The session was presided by Justice Abdul Rahman Mansaray, the current resident Judge in Kabala.
Explaining the purpose of the session, the Spokesperson for the Chief Justice and Director of Communications for the Judiciary of Sierra Leone, Elkass Sannoh said the sessions are being held in places where there is no sitting judge.
He said the Chief Justice, Desmond B. Edwards wanted to take justice to the doorstep of every citizen across the country regardless of regional background or social status in society. He called on the community stakeholders to be supportive of such a development and should cherish what he viewed as a unique opportunity in the administration of justice. He said there is now a New Judiciary with what he called unimaginable reforms.
He said the session will enhance expeditious trials and also decongest the correctional centers in the country.
Seven cases were called on the first day and which were prosecuted by the state Lawyer Augustine Yarimeh Sogbo Mansaray.
Defense counsel Ibrahim Samba, from the Legal Aid Board represented the accused. A man Momodu Samura, got three years for Larceny contrary to Section 13 (a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
Another accused Sheku Mansaray, 39 was sentenced to two years for rape contrary to the Sexual Offences Act of 2012 as repealed and replaced.
Another child penetration case of a 3 year-old girl by an accused aged 30, and four other criminal matters were adjourned to the 10 March, 2021 due to the absence of the prosecution witnesses that were to testify before the court.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online 10/03/21
