High Court Judge Honourable Justice Cosmotina Jarrett, in the ongoing “Access to Justice Through Judicial Week,” delivered a significant verdict on the 6th September, 2023, sentencing one Abdul Koroma, the leader of a gang involved in a robbery to a 70-year prison term.
The case revolved around the accused, Abdul Koroma, facing two counts of indictment, namely Conspiracy to commit Robbery and Robbery with Aggravation, as stipulated in Section 23(1)(a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
During the trial, evidence presented in court established that Abdul Koroma was the leader of a gang of eight armed robbers who, wielding machetes, had terrorized and robbed their victims, Mala Tilwani and Lokash. Both victims positively identified Abdul Koroma as the mastermind behind the violent robbery, which left them in a state of fear and distress.
Lokash, one of the victims, suffered severe injuries, including a near-severed finger, while resisting the robbers’ attempt to steal a silver ring from his hand. The gang had stolen property valued at over five hundred million Leones in old currency notes.
In her ruling, Honourable Justice Cosmotina Jarrett handed down a 70-year prison sentence to Abdul Koroma, ensuring that justice was served for the victims and the broader community.
However, the Judge also made the decision to discharge two accused persons, namely Ibrahim Conteh and Alusine Bangura, due to the “Want of Prosecution.”
Ibrahim Conteh had been brought before the Court on charges of Larceny in a Dwelling House, a violation of Section 13(a) of the Larceny Act 1916. Similarly, Alusine Bangura had faced charges of Wounding with Intent, as per Section 18 of the Offenses Against the Person Act 1861.
In these particular cases, Honourable Justice Cosmotina Jarrett determined that the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence or arguments to support the charges against Ibrahim Conteh and Alusine Bangura, leading to their discharge.
The Access to Justice Through Judicial Week continues to play a vital role in ensuring that the judicial system operates efficiently and fairly, ultimately upholding the principles of justice and the rule of law.
