By Amin Kef (Ranger)

The High Court sitting in Kabala has concluded a Special Criminal Session presided over by Justice Abu Bakarr Sannoh, marking a significant judicial exercise aimed at addressing a growing backlog of criminal matters and curbing rising crime trends in the northern districts. The special session was held between Monday 26 January and Saturday 31 January 2026 in Kabala, Koinadugu District.

The session handled a total of 41 matters, comprising 37 fresh cases and four old cases carried over from previous sittings. At the close of proceedings, the court recorded 10 convictions, seven files withdrawn for judgment, four murder cases referred to the next criminal session and two manslaughter cases similarly deferred. The majority of cases heard during the session involved offences of burglary and larceny, house breaking and larceny, shop breaking and office breaking and larceny, reflecting what the court described as an alarming rise in property-related crimes in both Koinadugu and neighbouring Falaba Districts.

The State was represented throughout the session by Augustine Y.S. Mansaray Esq. and A.R. Fofanah Esq., while all defendants were represented by A.T. Jalloh Esq. from the Legal Aid Board, ensuring legal representation for accused persons who could not afford private counsel.

Among the notable convictions was that of Morlai Turay, a 28-year-old man arrested on 29 September 2025 and charged under Criminal Summons No. 142/2025 with burglary and larceny contrary to sections 25 and 13 of the Larceny Act 1916, as well as malicious damage contrary to section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861. Morlai Turay pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment on the burglary count and five years on the malicious damage count, to be served concurrently. His co-accused, Mohamed Kamara, arrested on the same date and charged with receiving stolen goods contrary to section 33 of the Larceny Act 1916, also pleaded guilty. Evidence before the court revealed that he was induced by Morlai Turay to purchase a Samsung A05 mobile phone under the false claim that it belonged to Morlai Turay’s wife. Mohamed Kamara was convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, effective from the date of his arrest.

In another case, Ibrahim Bundu was arrested on 23 July 2024 at Thunder Hill Market in Kabala and charged with shop breaking and larceny contrary to section 26(1) of the Larceny Act 1916, involving items stolen from a charging shop along Teacher Street. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, effective from the date of his arrest.

Tibu Jalloh also pleaded guilty to a charge of store breaking and larceny involving items belonging to Pavi-Fort Construction Company in Kabala. In mitigation, defence counsel referred the court to the case of Aron Salia v. The State. State counsel, however, urged the court to take judicial notice of the widespread increase in larceny cases across Koinadugu and Falaba Districts. Tibu Jalloh was subsequently convicted and sentenced accordingly.

Several other defendants, including Mohamed Kamara, Abu Bakarr and Osman Jalloh, were convicted for offences ranging from receiving stolen goods to burglary, house breaking and malicious damage, with sentences ranging between two and five years’ imprisonment, most of which took effect from the dates of arrest.

The court also heard the case of Mustapha George, also known as “Clean Salone,” a 24-year-old arrested on 2 September 2025 at Thunder Hill Market and charged with store breaking and larceny. In sentencing him to two years’ imprisonment, Justice Abu Bakarr Sannoh considered mitigation submissions that the defendant did not benefit from the stolen items, which were perishable goods recovered and returned to the complainant.

Another conviction involved Mohamed Larmin Denkeh, aged 25, arrested at Jadia Town on 16 August 2025 and charged with house breaking, larceny and malicious damage. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment.

In a separate matter, Mohamed Alie Shaw, a 33-year-old okada rider and Sidikie Kamara, a 29-year-old power saw operator, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit a crime and killing an animal with intent to steal, contrary to Section 4 of the Larceny Act 1916. The offences occurred on 26 December 2024 at Njaia Ranch in Dogolia Town, Falaba District. Taking into account the time already spent in detention, the court sentenced both men to one year imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently from the date of arrest.

The session also saw several discharges. Bailor Shaw, a former police officer charged with robbery with aggravation, was discharged after the complainant declined to pursue the matter. Kadiatu Sankoh, who had been standing trial for murder across three special criminal sessions, was discharged due to the prosecution’s difficulty in securing witnesses from a remote village and in consideration of her physical and health condition. Justice Abu Bakarr Sannoh emphasized that such a discharge was not a bar to future prosecution.

Similarly, Osman Keita Jalloh, along with Mohamed Samura, Brima Jawara, and Lansana Jabbie, who were charged with house breaking, conspiracy and office breaking and larceny, were all discharged. The judge warned that their discharge did not absolve them permanently and that they remained under observation.

At the close of the session, Justice Abu Bakarr Sannoh withdrew all drug-related cases charged under section 8(a) of the National Drug Control Act No. 10 of 2008 for judgment to be delivered at a later date. Two additional cases involving aggravated sexual assault and sexual penetration of minors were also withdrawn for judgment. In his concluding remarks, the judge echoed submissions by state counsel regarding the sharp increase in theft-related offences in Koinadugu and Falaba Districts, noting that other serious matters, including murder, manslaughter and sexual offences, would be addressed in the next special criminal session of the High Court of Sierra Leone sitting in Kabala.

  https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/kabala-high-court-records-10-convictions-withdraws-key-cases-in-week-long-special-criminal-session/