The High Court of Sierra Leone sitting in Port Loko District, presided over by Honourable Justice Sahr Elogima Kekura, on Friday, 23 January 2026, delivered heavy custodial sentences in two separate criminal matters involving sexual offences against a minor and drug-related crimes.
The rulings, delivered during proceedings at the High Court Holden in Port Loko, formed part of ongoing judicial efforts to strengthen accountability and deter serious crimes in the North-West region.
In the first matter, Abdul Kamara was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to three counts relating to sexual offences committed against a child.
Abdul Kamara was convicted of sexual penetration of a child, contrary to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act 2012, as amended by Section 4(iii) of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2019. He was also convicted of sexual touching of a child, contrary to Section 20(1)(a) of the Sexual Offences Act 2012, and meeting a child for sexual purposes, contrary to Section 23(1)(c) of the same law.
According to the prosecution, the offences occurred between 16 and 23 October 2025 at Rotifunk, Lungi, in the Port Loko District, where Abdul Kamara was alleged to have engaged in sexual penetration, sexual touching and deliberately arranged to meet the child for sexual purposes.
Abdul Kamara pleaded guilty to all charges. In his plea for mitigation, he told the court that he had learnt his lesson while in custody and promised never to repeat such conduct or engage in any further criminal activity. He appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy.
However, while acknowledging the guilty plea and the fact that Abdul Kamara did not waste the court’s time, Justice Kekura emphasized that the offences were grievous and required a strong sentence to serve as a deterrent.
“Taking into consideration your plea in mitigation and the nature of the offences, I hereby sentence you on count one for sexually penetrating a child to 20 years’ imprisonment, count two for sexually touching a child to five years, and count three for meeting a child for sexual purposes to five years,” the judge ruled.
The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Abdul Kamara will serve a total of 20 years.
In a separate case heard by the same court, Justice Kekura sentenced Sama Koroma to 40 years’ imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to multiple drug-related offences involving cannabis sativa.
Sama Koroma faced two counts: unlawful possession of drugs, contrary to Section 8(c) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008 and selling prohibited drugs, contrary to Section 7(e) of the same Act.
The prosecution alleged that on 7 November 2025, at Door Area, Marampa Chiefdom, in the North-West Region, Sama Koroma was found in possession of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa without lawful authority. She was also accused of selling 123.4 grams of cannabis sativa unlawfully.
Her defence counsel, M. Korie Esq. and T.P.M. Sowa Esq., appealed to the court for leniency, stressing that their client pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and did not waste the court’s time. They urged the judge to temper justice with mercy.
Despite the plea, Justice Kekura described the sale of dangerous drugs as one of the greatest threats confronting the nation, warning that drug trafficking destroys lives, communities and even the futures of those who engage in the trade.
While noting Sama Koroma’s guilty plea, the judge imposed a 40-year prison sentence, reflecting the seriousness of the offences and the need to deter others involved in similar illegal activities.
The rulings have been viewed as a strong message from the judiciary that crimes involving the abuse of children and the trafficking of prohibited substances will attract severe punishment under Sierra Leone’s laws.
