Some of the accused were either sentenced to prison terms or granted bail. While others were released because the period served on remand is almost or equal to or a little over the maximum sentence for the crimes they are alleged to have committed. Some were discharged because they should not have been committed to the High Court in the first place.
424 new cases will be tried in the ongoing sessions. The Board will represent all those who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Judging by the numbers that can afford to hire a lawyer since the start of the sessions, the Board is expected to represent over ninety-five percent of the cases.
Since the start of the sessions on the 18 September 2018, the Board has secured the release of 19 accused persons charged with various offenses ranging from Wounding with Intent to Larceny, Store Breaking and Attempted Suicide.
This includes eight accused who were released on Tuesday, September 25, five of whom were represented by the Legal Aid Manager, Cecilia Tucker.
Abu Bakar Kuyateh 31 and Mohamed Kamara 22 were arrested in July 2017 and charged with stealing an old car battery which is valued at less than six hundred thousand leones (US $72) when it is new. Both were charged after spending ten days in a cell at the Kissy Mess Mess Police Station. They also spent 14 months on remand at the Pademba Road Correction Center until they were cautioned and discharged by Justice Bintu Alhadi.
Another accused, Alpha Sesay 18, was arrested in August 2017 for allegedly stealing building materials and was taken to the Waterloo Police Station. The allegation was made by his uncle Ibrahim Kamara. He spent ten days in cell at the Waterloo Police Station. He was not granted bail at both the Magistrate and High Courts. He spent thirteen months on remand at the Pademba Road Correctional Center until he was cautioned and discharged by Justice Bintu Alhadi.
Alhaji Ahmed Kamara 19, was arrested on September 2017 for alleged store breaking and larceny. He was held at the Aberdeen Police Station. He was alleged to have stolen 15 bags of charcoal value at three hundred thousand leone (US$ 36). He spent four days in cell at the Aberdeen Police Station and six days at the Criminal Investigations Department in Freetown before he was charged to court. He was not granted bail at both the Magistrate and High Courts. He spent twelve months on remand at the Pademba Road Correctional Center until he was cautioned and discharged by Justice Bintu Alhadi.
George Tucker 22, was arrested and detained at the Waterloo Police Station in July 2017 for allegedly stealing sixteen bags of charcoal valued at three hundred and twenty thousand leones (US$39). He spent three days in a police cell before the matter was charged to court. The matter was committed to the High Court in October 2017. He was not granted bail at both Magistrate and High Courts. He spent 14 months on remand at the Pademba Road, High Court before he was cautioned and discharged by Justice Bintu Alhadi.
