By Mohamed Mansaray in Kenema

At the Criminal Session of the High Court Holden in Bo City Presided over by Justice Francis Banks-Kamara on August 4, 2026, the court was informed by the Attorney General on behalf of the State that John Lappia, Syrus Fofanah and Raymond Jonjo are charged with Conspiracy and Sexual Penetration of a child.

The Three (3) Defendants were arraigned in Court on two counts ranging from Conspiracy Contrary to Law and Sexual Penetration of a child contrary to section 19 of the Sexual offences Act 2012 as repealed and replaced by Section 4 (ii) of the Sexual offences (Amendment) Act, 2019, Act No.8 of 2019.

The Three Defendants, John Lappia, Syrus Fofanah and Raymond Jonjo were sentenced to Seven years (7yrs.) imprisonment each on count 2, Sexual Penetration of a child and Cautioned and Discharged on count 1, Conspiracy.

According to court records, the Three Defendants on diverse days between May 5, 2022 and August 1, 2022 at Bo Judiciary District in the Southern Provence of Sierra Leone, conspired with unknown individuals to sexually penetrate a child below 18 years. The Three Defendants on May 4, 2022 in Bo District, engaged in an act of Sexual penetration of a child below the age of consent.

In plea mitigation, Francis Baimba Swaray Esq. of Legal Aid Board in Bo City, pleaded with the Judge to temper Justice with mercy for minimal sentence.

Considering the guilty plea taken by the Convicts and the plea in mitigation done on behalf of the Convicts, Justice Banks-Kamara Sentenced the Three Defendants to a jail term of 21 years at the Sierra Leone Correctional Centre (SLCC)in Bo.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 12th August 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)