Magistrate Briama Jah Commits Case to High Court

By: Alimatu Kargbo
In Freetown, a case has drawn national attention and raised alarms over press freedom and justice, well-known journalist Joseph Mendel Lamin, popularly known as Manager Dust alongside co-accused Morlia Kamara (a bike rider) and Umaru Timbo (a driver), have been committed to stand trial at the High Court. The trio faces two counts: conspiracy to commit murder and murder, under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as amended by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021.

According to the prosecution, on 15th January 2025, the accused and others allegedly conspired and executed the murder of journalist Samuel Brima Mattia at Voice of Peace and Development (VOPAD) Radio Station in Kissi Town, Waterloo.
Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Briama Jah emphasized the seriousness of the charges and outlined that a preliminary investigation had been conducted to determine whether sufficient evidence existed to proceed with a full trial. The prosecution presented three witnesses, all of whom were cross-examined. Following the close of their case, the defense counsel, M. Barateh Esq., representing the first accused, submitted a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to provide direct or circumstantial evidence, and referenced constitutional protections under the 1981 Constitution.
However, Magistrate Jah dismissed the no-case submission stating:

‘’This matter is not yet a trial, but a preliminary investigation. I find that the evidence presented is sufficient to put the accused persons on trial at the High Court,’’ Magistrate Jah said. He added that: “the prosecution has led enough evidence to commit all three accused”, and as such, they are now to face full trial at the High Court.