Freetown, Sierra Leone – Abdul Kpakka, the accused in the alleged murder of Sia Fatu Kamara, was arraigned before the High Court of Sierra Leone on Friday 6 September 2024.
He faces charges of murder and perverting the course of justice.
The session, presided over by Justice Momoh Jah Stevens, marked the formal transfer of the case from the Magistrate Court to the High Court, in accordance with Section 136 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
State counsel Yussif Isaac Sesay sought the court’s approval to set the place, time, and date for the trial, pursuant to Rule 10 of the Indictment Ex-Officio Information (Procedure) Rules, 1969.
The prosecution also applied for permission to serve the indictment and supporting evidence to Kpakka, in line with Rule 17 of the same rules.
Previously, on September 3, 2024, Justice Stevens had ordered Kpakka’s appearance before the court. During today’s proceedings, the Judge approved the termination of preliminary investigations at the Magistrate Court and authorized the transfer of the case to the High Court.
Detective Inspector Andrew Amara testified, detailing the execution of the arrest warrant against Kpakka. Under examination by State counsel Sesay, Inspector Amara confirmed executing the warrant at 09:58 AM at the Law Court Building on Siaka Stevens Street.
The warrant, signed by Justice Stevens on September 4, 2024, was presented in court as Exhibit A.
Inspector Amara further confirmed the charges outlined in the proposed indictment, Exhibit YS1, which includes:
1. Murder, contrary to Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as amended by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2022, Act No. 6 of 2022.
2. Perverting the Course of Justice.
Despite the defense team’s presence, comprising M.F. Bangura, A. Sesay, and A. Fullah, the hearing was conducted ex parte, with the defense not granted an opportunity to be heard.
A trial date is expected to be set when the criminal session resumes on September 18, 2024.
