By Mohamed Mansaray in Kenema

Six farmers, Bobor Kanneh, Ibrahim Kanneh, Musa Kengo, Momoh Koroma, Tamba Maxwell and Bockarie Monya, all of Sembehun Village in Gaura Chiefdom, Kenema District, were on June 23, 2026, sentenced by His Worship Magistrate George B. Samai of Magistrate Court No. 2 in Kenema for engaging in mining activities without acquiring the requisite mineral rights.

The accused persons were charged with one count of non-acquisition of mineral rights, contrary to Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals Act of 2009.

The charge was read and explained to the accused by the Court Clerk, Emmanuel Cooper. According to the prosecution, on June 4, 2026, at the Gola Rainforest Reserve near Gbahama Village, Gaura Chiefdom, Kenema Judicial District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone, the accused persons were found mining for gold without valid license.

All six accused pleaded guilty to the offence and appealed to the court for leniency.

In his ruling, Magistrate George B. Samai sentenced each of the accused to five (5) years imprisonment or they alternatively pay a fine of One Thousand Five Hundred New Leones (Nle 1,500.00) each.

The matter was prosecuted by Police Inspector Aiah Mafinda Teh, of the Legal and Justice Support Department attached to the Kenema Police Division. The accused were represented by defense counsel Abdalla Sanusie S. Koroma, Esq.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 29th June 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)