Justice Aiah Simeon Allieu has convicted Abu Bakarr Bangura of electoral malpractice, thereby forging a voterโs registration card and has been accordingly sentenced to a minimum jail term of five years or pay a fine of Twenty Thousand New Leones (NLE20,000).
Lawyer Ahmed G. Maxwell (AGM) Bockarie, Principal State Counsel at the Law Officers Department prosecuted the now convict on behalf of the State.
Abu Bakarr Bangura was in October 2022 arraigned for trial at the High Court sitting in Freetown on main Law Court Building Siaka Stevens Street on three counts of forgery of voterโs registration card, making a voter registration card without lawful authority to unlawful possession of a voterโs card contrary to the Public Elections Act No. 17 of 2022.
It is stated in the particulars of offence, that the then accused person Abu Bakarr Bangura on a date between the 1st January, 2021 and 24th September, 2022 in Freetown forged a voterโs registration card.
The now convict on the same date in Freetown Western Area, without lawful authority made and was found in possession of a voter registration card without lawful authority.
Upon arraignment at his first appearance, the male youth convict, Abu Bakarr Bangura pleaded guilty to all three counts levied against him by the State.
The trial Judge, Justice Aiah Simeon Allieu in handing down the sentence, found the accused person guilty on the first count charge of forgery of voterโs registration card, and was sentenced to the above term imprisonment.
And on counts 1 and 2 respectively, the convict Abu Bakarr Bangura was cautioned and discharged.
