Freetown, 11th March 2026- New facts have emerged in the matter involving a 24-year-old woman, Kadija Kamara who has walked free from the High Court in Freetown after spending 11 months in custody awaiting trial. Her case, widely reported as “a plate of rice,” stirred public outrage, but court records reveal she was indicted on one count of office breaking with intent, contrary to Section 27(2) of the Larceny Act of 1916, and not for her inability to pay for a plate of rice, as reports claim.
The Facts Behind the Case- According to the indictment, Ms. Kamara broke into the office of Alfisher Investment Company on April 21, 2025, intending to steal. The items listed were two canned drinks valued at Le60 and one foil food valued at Le100 a total of Le160.
When the matter finally came before High Court No. 2, presided over by Justice Mohamed Bawoh, Ms. Kamara pleaded guilty. Prosecutors pressed for the maximum sentence of seven years. Her lawyer, however, argued for leniency, citing her status as a first-time offender, a single mother of a two-year-old child, and her prolonged detention without trial.
Judge’s Ruling- Justice Bawoh sentenced her to 11 months imprisonment. But because she had already spent that exact period in remand, the court ruled the sentence as “time served,” allowing her immediate release.
In his remarks, the judge referenced her inability to pay for a plate of rice, reflecting the case as it appeared before him. That interpretation, shaped by her plea and the food items listed, gave rise to the public narrative that she had been jailed for rice. In reality, her detention was tied to a larceny charge under Sierra Leone’s laws.
Mercy Over Maximum- Despite the prosecution’s push for a harsher penalty, Justice Bawoh gave the matter a human face. He considered her circumstances, her remorse, and the fact that she had already endured 11 months in custody without trial. His decision ensured she walked free immediately after sentencing.
Lessons From the Case- The confusion surrounding Ms. Kamara’s case underscores two critical issues: the risks of misinformation in the justice system and the challenges posed by delayed trials. While the judge’s compassion brought closure for a young mother, the broader facts show that her 11 months in custody were not simply for a plate of rice, but for a larceny offence.
