Freetown, Sierra Leone – The High Court in Freetown has sentenced Sallieu Kamara to 15 years’ imprisonment or a fine of NLe100,000 after he pleaded guilty to consenting to the marriage of his underage biological daughter.
Kamara, the third accused person in the ongoing high-profile child marriage case, changed his plea on Thursday and admitted guilt to the second count of the charge. The offence, which occurred on 7th May 2026, contravenes the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024.
Justice Mark Ngegba presided over the matter.
State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay, who led the prosecution alongside M.M. Tarawally and A.B. Kargbo, told the court that Kamara’s guilty plea and his earlier statement to the police clearly established his involvement in the crime.
He urged the judge to hand down a sentence that would serve as a strong deterrent to others who might consider engaging in similar practices.
Defence counsel A.P.P. Koroma, who represented Kamara, pleaded for mercy. He described his client as an elderly man in poor health who acted without any malicious intent.
According to Koroma, Kamara believed the prospective groom would take good care of his daughter and also support him in his old age.
The lawyer added that the father had even consulted the girl’s elder sisters before giving his consent.
In his emotional appeal to the court, Kamara himself begged for leniency, insisting he never meant any harm to his daughter.
However, Justice Ngegba ruled that the offence had been sufficiently established. He proceeded to impose the statutory sentence of 15 years in prison or the alternative fine of NLe100,000.
The case has been adjourned to Tuesday, 22nd July 2026, for the trial to continue against the remaining accused persons.
This conviction sends a strong message that child marriage will not be tolerated in Sierra Leone, as authorities continue to crack down on practices that deny young girls their rights to education and a safe childhood.
