By: Tamba Steven Komba
Freetown, 6th February 2026- Two men accused of a violent motorbike robbery at Mile 91 have been committed to the High Court, following a detailed ruling by the Magistrate Court, Holden at Mile 91.
Delivering his ruling, His Worship Harold Kamara held that the prosecution had established prima facie evidence against Hassan Sesay and Sulaiman Turay, sufficient to warrant a full trial at the High Court.
The accused persons were charged by the Inspector-General of Police with conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery with aggravation, and accessory after the fact. The robbery charge was brought under section 23(1)(a) of the Larceny Act 1916, as repealed and replaced by section 1 of the Schedule to the Abolition of Death Penalty Act, 2022 (Act No. 6 of 2022).
In his ruling, Magistrate Kamara emphasized that the court was not determining guilt at this stage, but whether the evidence presented could justify a conviction if left unanswered. Citing the English authority of R v Galbraith (1981) 1 WLR 1039, he stated that “the test at committal is whether there is sufficient evidence on which a reasonable tribunal could convict.”
On the charge of conspiracy, the magistrate relied heavily on the voluntary cautioned statement of the 1st defendant, noting that Hassan Sesay admitted receiving a call from an accomplice and agreeing in advance to target the motorbike. “This is direct evidence of prior agreement,” the magistrate ruled, adding that the surrounding circumstances described by prosecution witnesses further supported the allegation of coordination.
Addressing the robbery charge, the court found that the prosecution had disclosed all essential ingredients of robbery with aggravation, including the use of weapons and threats to kill. According to the ruling, the victim’s statement revealed that “the ignition key was forcibly taken, the assailants were armed with a knife and cutlass, and the motorbike and money were stolen.”
On the liability of the 2nd defendant, Sulaiman Turay, the court cited R v Clarkson (1971) 55 Cr App R 445, holding that evidence suggesting assistance after the robbery was sufficient to establish a prima facie case of being an accessory after the fact.
Consequently, both accused persons were committed to the High Court and remanded at the Moyamba Correctional Centre, pending trial or the granting of bail by the High Court.
The ruling represents a major milestone in the fight against violent crime in the Mile 91 area, clearly demonstrating the judiciary’s firm commitment to ensuring that serious criminal allegations are thoroughly examined and properly determined before the appropriate trial court.
