A 24-year-old woman, Kadija Kamara, has been released from custody after the High Court in Freetown ruled that the 11 months she spent on remand was sufficient to cover her sentence.
Kamara’s case had generated widespread public debate, with many reports claiming she had been jailed simply for eating a plate of rice without paying. However, court records indicate that the charge against her was different.
According to the indictment, Kamara was charged with **office breaking with intent**, contrary to Section 27(2) of the Larceny Act of 1916. Prosecutors told the court that on April 21, 2025, she unlawfully broke into the office of Alfisher Investment Company with the intention to steal.
The items listed in the charge included two canned drinks valued at Le60 and one foil food valued at Le100, bringing the total value of the items to Le160.
When the matter came before High Court No. 2 presided over by Justice Mohamed Bawoh, Kamara pleaded guilty to the offence. The prosecution urged the court to impose the maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment.
Her defence lawyer, however, appealed for leniency, noting that Kamara was a first-time offender and a single mother responsible for a two-year-old child. Counsel also highlighted that she had already spent 11 months in custody awaiting trial.
In his ruling, Justice Bawoh sentenced Kamara to 11 months imprisonment. Since she had already spent the same period on remand, the court declared the sentence as time served, resulting in her immediate release.
During his remarks, the judge referenced her inability to pay for a plate of rice, a comment that contributed to the public perception that she had been jailed for food. In reality, the case stemmed from a larceny-related offence under Sierra Leonean law.
The ruling effectively brought the case to a close, with the court opting for a sentence that reflected both the offence and the time already spent in detention.
Legal observers say the case highlights the impact of misinformation on public understanding of court proceedings, as well as the broader challenges posed by delays in the justice system.
