By Emma Black

Justice Hannah Bonnie

In a significant step toward justice reform, July 3, 2025 the High Court Judge Hon. Justice Hannah Bonnie has acquitted and discharged 34 inmates from the Waterloo Correctional Centre during a special Prison Court session funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The session, part of Chief Justice Komba Kamanda’s wider initiative to accelerate access to justice, aimed to address cases of inmates facing prolonged adjournments, lacking indictments, or suffering from age-related and mental health challenges.

Among those released were three female inmates, including two women previously convicted of larceny, the broader group had been sentenced for offenses ranging from wounding, common assault, and fraudulent conversion to throwing missiles and receiving stolen property, following trials in magistrate courts in Waterloo and York.

During the proceedings, several inmates made emotional appeals for leniency, acknowledging their past mistakes and expressing a desire for rehabilitation.

Mummy, most of us know our conduct was wrong, and we believe we were rightfully convicted. We’ve learnt our lesson and will take a complete turn and become better citizens, one inmate said tearfully.

One female inmate, convicted of larceny, spoke of the desperation that led to her actions.

Stealing is not part of my DNA. I had no choice my children were starving, she explained, drawing attention to the difficult socioeconomic conditions many face.

In response, Justice Bonnie reminded the inmates of the legal and moral consequences of their actions but encouraged them to redirect their lives through productive activities that support national development.

Let this be your turning point, choose integrity, not crime, she urged, the judge also raised concern over 17 inmates who remain unindicted, ordering the relevant judicial authorities to expedite their cases so they may access High Court proceedings without further delay.

Justice Bonnie directed the Magistrate Courts in Waterloo and York to swiftly process long-standing cases, singling out those of Algasimu Sesay, accused of stealing a mobile phone worth 8,000 New Leones, and Issa Kargbo, charged with simple larceny, for summary trial.

The session ended with inmates expressing deep appreciation to Justice Bonnie and Chief Justice Kamanda for what many described as a lifeline and an opportunity for a new beginning.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday,7th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)