The Legal Aid Board has commenced representation fr 6 women; Mabinty Kamara, Nendewa Bangura, Binti Bangura, Barlay Turay, Seray Kargbo and Marie Kargbo and two men Alusine Bangura and Ishmael Sesay all from Tonko Limba chiefdom are battling charges over the alleged deaths of two teenagers whom police said died after being taken to a ‘bondo’ bush.
The accused persons are arraigned in two separate files (four each) on charges of Manslaughter at the Kambia Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate George B. Samai.
Legal Aid Board’s National Supervisor who also doubles as Resident Counsel for Port Loko and Kambia districts, Counsel Mohamed Korie, had his application for bail rejected for the third time after having cross-examined the second prosecution witness on Tuesday, 19 March 2024.
In another development, the Board has secured the discharged of the total of thirty-two accused persons from separate Magistrate Court sittings in Kono and Freetown held between January and March 2024.
Three of the beneficiaries were discharged in Freetown by Magistrate Wilbril Hamida Moira John of Court No. 7, while the remaining twenty-nine were set free in Kono by Magistrate, Joseph Toby.
Those released in Freetown included: Mohamed Alhaji Kamara, Jacob J. Brima and Lamin Conteh. Prior to their release, the three were standing trials separately on charges of larceny. They were set free by the court for want of prosecution following an application by Legal Aid Counsel Bankole C.E Morgan.
Admonishing those released in Freetown, the Executive Director of the Board, Ms Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles, told them to be content with what they have and not to get themselves involve into anything that will land them in police custody. She said involving in thievery in the name of fighting for survival is totally wrong and they must desist from it. She urged them to go back to their communities and be good contributors.
She assured of the Board’s continued commitment in ensuring that the poor and vulnerable are represented in the courts.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, one of the beneficiaries, Mohamed Alhaji Kamara, expressed gratitude to the Board for its intervention, adding that they were pleased with the outcome of their matters.
He assured the Board of their commitment to remain peaceful and law abiding citizens.
The beneficiaries in Kono included Isaac Osabutey, Peter Ngauja, Tamba Ngaineh and Komba Manga. The four were discharged on separate files on Tuesday 19 March 2024 on charges of sexual penetration. All those released in Kono were represented by Counsel Alpha O. Kamara.