They were later charged to court for riotous conduct and disorderly behavior, contrary to section (12) sub section (1) of the Public Order Act No.56 of 1965, as repealed and replaced by Act No.15 of 1973.

According to Magistrate Santigie Bangura, he considered the convicts as first-time offenders.

The court, he said, should be seen nipping such notorious anti-social behavior among young people in the country.

He further stated in court that Sierra Leone is about to hold its general elections, and that any act that will throw spanners into the electoral process or create an un-peaceful atmosphere for citizens will not be tolerated.

“It is against this backdrop that the court considers the convicts as threat to the peaceful co-existence of the people of this country, and their conviction will serve as a deterrent to other young people who have no respect for law and order,” Magistrate Santigie asserted.

But due to security reasons, the court decided that all the convicted clique members should be whisked to the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown, before they could start the process of paying fines into the court treasury, or begin their sentence.

The matter was prosecuted by Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP IS Mansaray, while the convicts were represented by lawyers Ishmael Philip Mammie, AK Koroma, JM Jengo and A. Kamanda.