Koidu Town, 13 August 2026 – The Legal Aid Board (LAB) has secured the acquittal and discharge of four young men charged with conspiracy and murder at the Kono High Court.
Honourable Justice Santigie Ibrahim Bangura freed Momoh Sesay, 18; William Sesay, 19; Alhaji Alusine Jalloh, 20; and Sahr Bockarie, 19, after a full trial. The Board’s resident lawyer for Kono District, Counsel Alpha O. Kamara, successfully argued their innocence.
The four had spent about 17 months in detention since their arrest in March 2025.
Court records show the young men were close friends of the deceased, Alie Kamara. They often shared belongings and went to nightclubs together before his death on Sunday, 9 March 2025. This friendship raised suspicion, and police arrested them at the late man’s home while they were there to console the bereaved family.
Many community members argued at the time that the arrests appeared based solely on the men’s friendship with the deceased rather than any concrete evidence linking them to the killing.
In court, Counsel Kamara submitted after cross-examining witnesses that neither police investigations nor witness testimonies pointed to the four as responsible for their friend’s death.
“Being a friend to someone does not mean you should be held responsible if he or she is found dead,” he told the court, and applied for their acquittal and discharge.
In separate sittings, Counsel Kamara also secured the discharge of three other accused persons for want of prosecution. Hassan Karku had faced charges of conspiracy and robbery with aggravation; Tamba Ezekiel Yambi was charged with conspiracy and larceny of cattle; and Yusif Kabia faced a charge of wounding with intent.
Over the same period, LAB lawyers in Freetown and Port Loko secured the discharge of four more people. In Freetown, Justice John Bosco Alieu freed Alhassan Koroma, Santigie Kamara and Issa M. Sesay, who were represented by Counsel Ibrahim Samba. In Port Loko, Counsel Mohamed Korie secured the freedom of Idrissa Kabba.
Speaking after the discharges, LAB Executive Director Ms Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles thanked the Board’s lawyers for their steadfastness and commitment despite numerous challenges.
She assured the public of the Board’s continued dedication to fulfilling its mandate under the Legal Aid Act 2012.
