By Mohamed Mansaray in Kenema

Magistrate Wilbri Hamida M. John, presiding at Magistrate Court No. 2 in Kenema, has sentenced 24-year-old Karimu Njola, a resident of Largo Town, to five (5) months’ imprisonment for domestic violence, contrary to Section 2(1) of the Domestic Violence Act No. 20 of 2007.

According to court records, on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Largo Town, Nongowa Chiefdom, Kenema Judicial District, Njola willfully destroyed a quantity of cocoa pods valued at Five Hundred New Leones (NLe 500). The cocoa pods were the property of Kulla Momoh, with whom the convict shared a domestic relationship, identified in court as his aunt.

Karimu Njola pleaded guilty to the offense and begged the court for leniency. However, given the gravity of the offense, Magistrate Hamida John sentenced him to serve five months in prison at the Sierra Leone Correctional Service (SLCS) in Kenema.

In a related matter, 22-year-old Musa Gandy, of Samie Seidema Village, was also sentenced by Magistrate Hamida John to four (4) months’ imprisonment for larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.

The court heard that on July 10, 2025, at Samie Seidema Village in Nongowa Chiefdom, Gandy stole a quantity of cocoa pods valued at Six Hundred New Leones (NLe 600), the property of Samai Musa. He also pleaded guilty and requested mercy from the court.

In delivering the sentence, Magistrate John emphasized the need to deter theft in rural farming communities, particularly during harvest periods.

Both matters were prosecuted by Woman Police Sergeant 4654 Bakarr Watta and Inspector Aiah Mafinda Teh, who are attached to the Legal and Justice Support Department at the Kenema Police Division.

The cases highlight the judiciary’s continued stance against domestic abuse and agricultural theft in the Eastern Province.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday,30th July, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)