10/01/2026
COURT SENTENCES TWO CONVICTS TO 48 MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT EACH ON FOUR COUNTS OUT OF NINE
Magistrate Joseph Toby of the Kambia Magistrate Court on Friday convicted and sentenced two accused persons on four counts relating to wounding, assault on a police officer, and resisting police arrest. The convictions followed a violent upheaval in Samu Chiefdom, during which police officers were reportedly subjected to serious assaults.
The two defendants had pleaded guilty to all nine counts before the court. However, they were acquitted and discharged on Counts 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
On Count 1, Wounding, contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861, each of the two convicts was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.
On Count 2, Assault on a Police Officer, contrary to Section 45 of the Police Act (Cap. 150) of the Laws of Sierra Leone, each convict was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.
On Count 3, also Assault on a Police Officer, contrary to Section 45 of the Police Act (Cap. 150), each convict was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.
On Count 4, Resisting Police Arrest, contrary to Section 45 of the Police Act (Cap. 150), each convict was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment.
The court ordered that the four sentences run consecutively. Consequently, each convict will serve a total of 48 months’ imprisonment, representing four consecutive 12-month sentences on Counts 1, 2, 3 and 4.
According to Magistrate Joseph Toby, the sentence was imposed in accordance with the laws of Sierra Leone and was also intended to serve as a precedent to discourage similar acts of lawlessness against police officers in the future.
