By Elkass Sannoh
As the Judiciary of Sierra Leone under the leadership of His Lordship, Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards focuses on expeditious trials across the country, the High Court Judge, Justice AT Ganda is set to deliver judgements on 43 cases in Pujehun District, Southern Sierra Leone during the ongoing High Court Criminal Sessions.
Out of the 43cases to be heard, one (1) is murder, one (1) drug trafficking and twenty seven (27) are sexual penetration cases. The High Court Criminal Sessions which is fully funded by the Judiciary of Sierra Leone commenced in Pujehun, Port Loko and Kailahun on 31st August and will end on 11th September, 2020 for Port Loko and Pujehun and Kailahun will end on 16th September. The remaining cases are larceny, conspiracy, wounding with intent and burglary. The sessions are being held in places where there are no sitting Judges.
On day one in Pujehun, three accused persons were sentenced to 8 years and one twenty two years old Momoh Ngombu was acquitted and discharged after being remanded for two years and three months for larceny. The three convicts made a confessional statement and pleaded for mercy as first time offenders.
Commending the Honourable Chief Justice for funding the High Court Criminal Sessions, the Deputy Chairman of Pujehun District Council, Councillor Mohamed Mansaray said Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards has brought a lot of reforms in the justice sector to ameliorate the suffering of the ordinary Sierra Leoneans who have been deprived from justice for the wrong reason.
He thanked and prayed for the Chief Justice and his entire administration for the gesture to facilitate transportation of witnesses to aid the speedy trials of accused persons as well as complaints.
“This is leadership with a clear vision as envisioned by President Julius Maada Bio,” the Deputy District Chairman said, adding that the issue of transportation has undermined expeditious trials and will many a time frustrate complainants including the accused persons.
This is the second time that Criminal Sessions of the High Court are being held outside the regular jurisdictions of Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Kono for this year in areas such as Kailahun, Pujehun, Moyamba, Mattru Jong, Port Loko and Kabala, the first being in February to March this year.
As part of this second round of Criminal Sessions of the High Court in the provinces, Tonkolili-Magburaka will be holding Sessions for the very first time like what happened with Mattru-Jong, Kabala, Pujehun and Kailahun in February to March 2020.
