Sierra Leone News: Le2.5m fine for convicted assaulter

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Magistrate Santigie Bangura levied a Le2,500,000 fine against Randolf Bankole Gibson. Gibson pleaded guilty to assaulting Hadiatu Lima Johnson, contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against Persons Act of 1861. Magistrate Bangura sentenced Gibson on Tuesday 8 January 2019, at the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown. Police alleged that Gibson assaulted Hadiatu Lima Johnson on Sunday 30 December 2018 in Kingtom. Defence lawyer, Sahid Sesay, said Gibson is a first time offender and has already expressed remorse for what he did. Sesay added that Gibson did not waste the Court’s time. Prosecuting lawyer, A.S. Marrah said the convict did not waste the time of the Court but he did not consider the social consequences. Lawyer Marrah urged Magistrate Bangura to levy a fine, which the government can benefit from, and an adequate compensation for the victim. Lawyer Marrah cited Section 54(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965 that refers to adequate compensation for such an offence. “The complainant is resident in the United States of America, and is supposed to have flown back to the States since last Saturday, but considered coming to the court as part of her civic responsibility.” Magistrate Bangura said he considered the fact that the convict is a first time offender and has not wasted time in the Court. He therefore levied a fine of Le1 million or three year’s imprisonment and Le1.5 million compensation to the complainant.

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