The High Court of Sierra Leone, sitting in Port Loko and presided over by Hon. Justice Sahr Elogima Kekura, has handed down significant sentences in two separate criminal cases.
Abdul Kamara Sentenced to 20 Years for Sexual Offences Against a Minor.
Abdul Kamara has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment after being convicted on three counts: 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; 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 Sexual Offences Act 2012.
The prosecution alleged that between the 16th and 23rd October 2025, at Rotifunk, Lungi, in the Port Loko District in the North-West region of Sierra Leone, Kamara engaged in acts of sexual penetration, sexual touching and meeting a child for sexual purposes.
Kamara pleaded guilty to all charges. In his plea in mitigation, he stated he had learned his lesson while in custody and promised never to engage in such conduct or any criminal activity again. He appealed to the court to temper justice with mercy.
In sentencing, Hon. Justice Kekura acknowledged that Kamara did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty. However, he emphasised that the offences were heinous and warranted a substantial custodial sentence 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 stated.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
In a separate case, Hon. Justice Kekura sentenced Sama Koroma to 40 years imprisonment after she pleaded guilty to multiple drug-related offences.
Koroma was charged with 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 7th November 2025 at Door Area, Marampa Chiefdom, in the North-West region, Koroma was found in possession of dried leaves believed to be cannabis sativa without lawful authority. She was also alleged to have sold 123.4 grams of cannabis sativa without lawful authority. She pleaded guilty to both charges.
Defence counsel M. Korie Esq. and T.P.M. Sowa Esq. pleaded for leniency, noting that their client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and did not waste the court’s time. They appealed to the judge to temper justice with mercy.
In his sentencing remarks, Hon. Justice Kekura stated that the selling of dangerous drugs represents one of the greatest threats facing the nation, as it destroys lives, communities, and the sellers’ own futures. While acknowledging that Koroma did not waste the court’s time, he imposed a sentence of 40 years imprisonment, reflecting the serious nature of the offences.
© Judiciary of Sierra Leone
