Appeal Dismissed, Court Orders Immediate Arrest of Kamarainba Mansaray

The Court of Appeal in Freetown has dismissed the appeal filed by former presidential candidate of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADP), Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, challenging his conviction for sexual offences involving a minor.

Delivering the ruling on Monday, November 10, 2025, Presiding Judge Justice Abdulai Bangura ordered that a warrant of arrest be issued for Mansaray and his surety, Isha Baby Mansaray, and directed that the former politician be returned to prison to serve his sentence.

Justice Bangura, in his ruling, noted that Mansaray had consistently failed to appear before the court since the appeal proceedings began. He further observed that the appellant’s lawyer, Musa Pious Sesay, had also been irregular in his court appearances, contributing to the delays in the matter.

Earlier, State Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay had urged the court to dismiss the appeal and issue a warrant of arrest for Mansaray, citing his repeated absence and lack of compliance with court procedures.

Justices Tonia Barnett and Simeon Alieu joined Justice Bangura on the panel that delivered the unanimous decision.

Mansaray, who is reportedly residing in the United States, was convicted in February 2023 on eight counts of sexual offences but was later granted bail pending appeal. The court’s latest decision now mandates his immediate return to custody to complete his sentence.

Following his conviction, Mansaray filed eighteen grounds of appeal and was granted bail by the Court of Appeal on compassionate grounds due to his deteriorating health condition. His then-lawyer, Dr. Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, had pleaded for bail, citing the court’s discretionary powers guided by statute.

After being released, Mansaray travelled abroad for medical treatment and later reunited with his family. His case, however, resurfaced in 2024, shortly after he resumed political activism an incident that some of his supporters claimed was politically motivated. The judiciary has since dismissed those claims, affirming that the decision was guided strictly by due process.