In a recent court hearing at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, an individual named John Sharia-law Conteh has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to the unlawful possession of a human skull and bone. Conteh faced multiple charges, including the possession of unlicensed firearms, concealing arms, practicing sorcery, and possessing sorcery-related items, all of which were found to be in violation of Sierra Leone’s laws.
According to the police report, Conteh was apprehended on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, in Five Mile Newton Waterloo. During the arrest, he was found to be in possession of two short guns without a license. The police also discovered several items associated with sorcery, including a human skull wrapped with red thread, a partially suspected human bone, an old aluminum chain, three bottles containing substances suspected to be native medicine herbs, a small calabash, a cup containing a red substance suspected to be human blood, a box containing red cloth, and a cap believed to be made of cobra skin. These items were presented as evidence during the court proceedings.
Detective Sergeant 8576, Issa Kamara, the exhibit clerk attached to the CID HQ Pademba Road, testified that he received and registered the exhibits, which included the human skull, bone, chains, rings, bottles, calabash, knives, cup with suspected human blood, cup with grainy human bones, cobra skin, and an empty box.
The prosecutor emphasized that on May 1, 2023, a group of herbalists, including their national president, visited Conteh’s residence and discovered the aforementioned exhibits. As a result, Conteh was arrested, taken into custody, and subsequently charged in court.
During the plea in mitigation, the defence counsel acknowledged that Conteh did not waste the court’s time and emphasized that he was a first-time offender. The defense requested leniency, highlighting that Conteh was the sole provider for his family.
However, Magistrate Mark Ngegba handed down a sentence of 12 months of imprisonment for each count, with the sentences to run concurrently, despite the defense's plea for leniency.
This conviction and sentencing serve as a clear reminder of the legal consequences individuals face when involved in the unlawful possession and practices associated with sorcery. Sierra Leone's legal system remains committed to upholding the law, deterring such activities, and promoting a safe society.