Police Intervention Leads to First Child Marriage Act Prosecution

Police Intervention Leads to First Child Marriage Act Prosecution

The Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has formally charged four individuals—Sayo Marrah, Lansana Qura, Salieu Kamara, and Abu Bakarr Kamara—under the newly enacted Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024. This landmark prosecution addresses the contracting, consenting to, and facilitation of a child marriage.

According to official court documents, the defendants face three distinct counts: Contracting Marriage with a Child, Consenting to Child Marriage, and Aiding and Abetting Child Marriage, pursuant to Sections 2, 3, and 10 of the Act, respectively.

The prosecution alleges that Sayo Marrah contracted a marriage with a minor, an action explicitly prohibited by the 2024 legislation. Furthermore, Salieu Kamara, the child’s father, is accused of consenting to the marriage and actively participating in the ceremony.

Co-defendants Lansana Qura and Abu Bakarr Kamara are alleged to have facilitated the union, playing instrumental roles in the execution of the ceremony to ensure its completion.

This legal action follows an intervention by the Sierra Leone Police on June 15th. Acting on intelligence from vigilant citizens, officers halted a wedding ceremony in Wellington involving a 16-year-old minor and apprehended several individuals suspected of organizing the event.

Under current Sierra Leonean law, child marriage is strictly prohibited; any person found participating in or facilitating such acts is subject to severe legal consequences. Authorities emphasize that this case serves as a critical test of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024, which was established to fortify child protections and criminalize all levels of involvement in child marriage.

Marking a significant milestone in judicial enforcement, this case represents one of the first known prosecutions under the new Act. 

The accused are scheduled for court proceedings as investigations continue in strict accordance with the nation’s child protection framework.