By Alvin Lansana Kargbo
Khadijah Kamara, a 25-year-old mother of a two-year-old child, has been released from custody after serving an 11-month prison sentence following a larceny case heard at the High Court in Freetown.
According to a case update issued on March 11, 2026, Khadijah Kamara was released on March 10, 2026, after the court ruled that the time she had already spent in detention was equivalent to the sentence imposed.
Khadijah Kamara was arrested in April 2025 and investigated for the offence of Office Breaking and Larceny. She was subsequently charged with one count of Office Breaking and Larceny contrary to Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The charge relates to an incident that allegedly occurred on April 21, 2025, at the premises of Alfisher Investment Company on Campbell Street in Freetown. Prosecutors alleged that
Khadijah Kamara broke into the office and took two canned drinks and a packaged meal wrapped in foil, with a combined value of SLE 160 belonging to the company.
The matter was first heard at the Magistrate Court during preliminary investigations. At that stage, Khadijah Kamara reportedly did not have legal representation. The case was later committed to the High Court in July 2025.
In January 2026, the case progressed when Khadijah Kamara was indicted with intent to steal contrary to Section 27(2) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
On March 10, 2026, Khadijah Kamara appeared before Justice Bawoh at the High Court in Freetown. During the proceedings, she was represented by a Counsel from AdvocAid, an organization that provides legal support to women caught up with the law.
Khadijah Kamara pleaded guilty to the charge, after which her Counsel made a plea in mitigation requesting a minimal sentence from the court.
Justice Bawoh subsequently sentenced her to 11 months imprisonment. However, since Khadijah Kamara had already spent the same duration on remand while awaiting trial, the court ruled that the sentence had effectively been served. She was therefore immediately released from the correctional centre.
AdvocAid reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that women who come into conflict with the law have access to legal representation and fair treatment within the justice system. The organization also emphasized the importance of justice processes that are fair, proportionate and responsive to the circumstances of vulnerable individuals.
