BO, Southern Sierra Leone – The High Court in Bo has sentenced eight armed robbers to 560 years’ imprisonment each as the judiciary’s criminal session in the Southern region came to a close.
The case, which started in the lower court and was later committed to the High Court, concluded after several appearances before Honourable Justice Francis Bangs Kamara. All eight accused men pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
In mitigation, counsel J.J. Harris Esq. told the court that the convicts were young men in their prime and first-time offenders who had learned their lessons and would not reoffend. Taking these submissions into account, Justice Kamara imposed a sentence of 560 years on each of the eight. Under the judicial calculations applied by the court, the effective minimum term for each convict is 80 years.
In his closing remarks as the criminal session ended and he prepared to proceed on vacation, Justice Kamara stressed his determination to protect public safety.
He said he wants the people of the Southern region to sleep with their eyes closed rather than remain awake in fear of armed thieves.
The judge declared that he would use every available means to fight armed robbery and either eradicate the menace or drastically reduce its prevalence in the region.
Court attendees later said the presence of the High Court Judge and the firm sentences handed down in recent cases have significantly improved safety and security compared with previous years. Many credited the Judiciary with playing a crucial role in the fight against armed robbery by ensuring justice is served and offenders are removed from society.
Public praise was also directed at Chief Justice Komba Kamanda for deploying Justice Kamara to the Southern region. Residents of Bo District and beyond described the appointment as a wise and welcome intervention that has helped free communities from the threat of night-time armed robbers.
Observers further noted a positive change in the legal landscape of the South. The region now enjoys a more vibrant legal profession, with a greater number of lawyers available to represent clients—an improvement on earlier years when legal representation was scarce.
As the criminal session closes, the people of Bo and the wider Southern region continue to express gratitude to the Chief Justice for selecting a judicial officer they regard as effective and dedicated to their security and the rule of law.
