Popular entertainment Journalist Ibrahim Koroma working for Kalleone radio 105.7 and Karima Tv in Kenema and 10 others has been slammed 12 and 15 months in prison by Justice Adrian Fischer accordingly.

Ibrahim Koroma, Ishmael Bah, Mohamed Saidu Bah, Zunaika Jabbie, Abibatu Sesay, Isatu Koroma and others filed an Appeal against the 18 months sentence handed down by Principal Magistrate Mark N’gegba for two counts of disorderly behavior contrary to section 12 of the Public Order Act No.46 of 1965 as repealed and replaced by section 12 (a) of Act No.15 of 1973 and riotous conduct contrary to section 12 of the Public Order Act No.46 of 1965 repealed and replaced by section 12 (a) of Act No.15 of 1973 in a judgment dated 27th June 2022.

Principal Magistrate Mark N’gegba found all the Appellants guilty as charged by the State and sent all Appellants to 18 months imprisonment on both counts to run concurrently.

It is against this backdrop that Lawyers for the convicted persons filed an Appeal to the Appeals Court against both the convictions and sentence of Magistrate Mark N’gegba.

Justice Adrian Fischer while addressing the court stated that the learned trial Magistrate was biased against the appellants in using the same defective criminal threshold and standards as well as similar evidence that was applied by him in convicting the appellants and to acquit and discharge the 12th accused person who was jointly with them.

In review of the evidence before him, Justice Adrian Fischer said the learned trial Magistrate at paragraph 5 of the judgment referenced the accused persons to the OSD Headquarters demanding to see their relative and friend Alhaji Amadu Bah known as LAJ.

That PW1 told the court that one of her superiors came outside and asked the accused persons to leave the premises and identified the 1st, 2nd, 11th and 12th accused persons respectively.

Delivering his ruling Justice Adrian Fischer crushed the sentence of 18 month imprisonment and substitutes the sentences on the Appellants to 12 and 15 months accordingly. He identified the 1st accused Ishmael Bah as the ringleader in the disturbance that happened on that day at the OSD Headquarters. He stated that no mitigating factors were advanced on his behalf whilst one underscore his motivation for going to the OSD Headquarters as his actions were unlawful and an affront to the rule of law and that he has no right to demand to see his brother while in custody stating only Legal Practitioners are accorded with such right. He said that as first time offender his sentenced was reduced from 18 to 15 months in prison of which the said sentence is to take effect on the date of ruling.

Justice Adrian Fischer sentenced the 2nd accused Mohamed Saidu Bah to 15 months imprisonment as he was in close alliance with the ringleader to orchestrate the disturbance on that day while the 4th accused Abibatu Sesay was sentenced to 12 months being identified as one of those causing the disturbance on that day. The 6th , 8th , 9th, 10th and 11th accused persons were all slammed 12 month imprisonment to take effect from the day of the said judgment.