Migrant Smuggler Sentenced to Nine Years, Ordered to Compensate Victim from Kazakhstan

Migrant Smuggler Sentenced to Nine Years, Ordered to Compensate Victim from Kazakhstan

The Court of Appeal has delivered a strong sentence against a 40-year-old businessman, Nuru Deen Bangapoma Bangura, handing him a nine-year prison term for migrant smuggling and ordering immediate compensation for the victim.

The judgment, pronounced on Monday, October 13, 2025, by Honourable Justice Tonia Barnett, convicted Nuru Deen under Section 20(1) of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2022. He was found guilty of orchestrating and facilitating the illegal movement of an individual abroad.

According to the prosecution, led by State Counsel A. Jalloh, Nuru Deen, along with his brother Sheik Ibrahim Bangapoma Bangura, faced charges of conspiracy and actual migrant smuggling. The court heard that between September 1, 2023, and April 30, 2024, the defendants conspired to facilitate illegal migration from Freetown.

Prosecutors alleged that Nuru Deen fraudulently received money from Nyuma Lamin Tengbeh between September 5, 2023, and April 25, 2024, on the false promise of helping him travel and settle in the United States. Court documents revealed that Nuru Deen convinced community leaders to persuade Tengbeh’s mother to sell her land, valued at Le 300,000,000, to fund the illegal journey.

However, the prosecution confirmed that Tengbeh never reached the United States. Instead, he was taken to Guinea and subsequently flown to Kazakhstan, where he is currently reported to be in poor health.

Though both defendants pleaded not guilty, Justice Barnett noted in her judgment that overwhelming evidence, including Nuru Deen’s own testimony of traveling with Tengbeh, confirmed the crime. The court found no evidence of Nuru Deen holding any official status as a consular officer or licensed migration facilitator.

“Therefore,” Justice Barnett declared, “the first defendant is found guilty of migrant smuggling as charged.”

Nuru Deen was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for migrant smuggling. He and his brother, Sheik Ibrahim, were acquitted and discharged on the conspiracy count.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court issued a significant set of orders. Honourable Justice Barnett ordered the immediate recovery of the sold property at No. 67 Mongegba, Regent Road, Grafton, Freetown, and directed the Undersheriff’s Department to return it to the rightful owner.

Crucially, the court ordered that the victim in Kazakhstan be immediately compensated with two hundred million Leones (Le 200,000,000) for emotional trauma and directed authorities to facilitate the victim's repatriation.

Finally, the court ordered the return of Sheik Ibrahim’s passport. The defendants were represented by I. Turay Esq.