Historic 3,920-Year Sentence Handed to Seven for Aggravated Robbery

Historic 3,920-Year Sentence Handed to Seven for Aggravated Robbery

A shocking ruling delivered during the Criminal Session of the High Court in Bo on August 4, 2026, Honorable Justice Francis Banks-Kamara sentenced seven men to a staggering combined total of 3,920 years in prison for their roles in a violent robbery spree.

The defendants—identified as David Kanu (alias Davida), Mohamed Sillah, Paul Kaikai, Joseph Sannoh, Sahr Komba, Ahmed Conteh, and Abdulai Nyallay—were found guilty of conspiracy and robbery with aggravation. 

The charges were brought under Section 23, subsection 1(a) of the Larceny Act 1916, as amended by the Abolition of Death Penalty Act 2022. An eighth defendant, Alfred Bull, was acquitted and discharged of all charges, while Foday Sankoh Kamara was also among those initially charged by the state.

The court heard that on August 16, 2025, the convicts, armed with cutlasses and sticks, terrorized residents in the Bo District. The prosecution detailed a series of brutal thefts, including the robbery of Abdul Wahab Bangura, who was stripped of items totaling NLe 2,400.

Other victims included Marie Tarawally Jalloh, who lost cash and goods valued at NLe 187,050; Mabinty Fofanah (NLe 8,475); and several others, with the total value of stolen property exceeding NLe 200,000.

Each of the seven convicts received 80 years for each of the seven counts of aggravated robbery, resulting in 560 years per person. While defense counsel Francis Baimba Swaray of the Legal Aid Board pleaded for leniency, citing the defendants' youth and potential for reform, Justice Banks-Kamara remained resolute in his commitment to public safety.

“These individuals are enemies of the State,” Justice Banks-Kamara declared. He emphasized that such acts of terror discourage investment and hinder national progress. “I am in Bo to ensure that the people of Bo and its environs sleep in peace.”

The successful prosecution was led by Senior State Counsel Augustine Sheku, assisted by Yankuba Bah and Gerald Massaquoi.