By Fatima Kpaka
KONO – Justice Santigie Ibrahim Sorie Bangura of the High Court in Kono has sentenced Mohamed Tarawalie, a young man, to ten years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to a charge of store breaking and larceny.
Tarawalie was arraigned on one count under Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916. According to the indictment, on May 18, 2025, in Kono, Eastern Province, he broke into the store of Yei Queewa Solleh and stole an aluminum mortar along with assorted items valued at NLe 1,355.
When the charge was read and explained, Tarawalie admitted guilt. State prosecutor Lawyer C.R. Sesay urged the court to adopt the guilty plea and impose sentence.
In his allocutus, the convict pleaded for leniency, claiming he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offense and promised not to repeat such conduct. His defense counsel, Lawyer A.O. Kamara, also appealed for mercy, stressing that Tarawalie was a first-time offender who had saved the court’s time by pleading guilty.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Bangura acknowledged the plea in mitigation but emphasized the seriousness of the offense.
“Taking into consideration the serious nature of the offense, the court has to take a tough stance in a bid to deter others from indulging in such acts. In the circumstances, I hereby sentence him to ten (10) years imprisonment, and I so order,” the judge declared.
The ruling underscores the judiciary’s firm approach to theft-related crimes in Sierra Leone, particularly in Kono District.