Bopolu City, Gbarpolu-On October 9, 2024, the Sixteen Judicial Circuit Court in Bopolu City, presided over by Judge Wesseh A. Wesseh sentenced Sampson Lamah to five years in prison for robbery.
Robbery is a criminal offense that violates Chapter 15 Subchapter C, Section 15.32 of the Revised Penal Code of the Republic of Liberia. It involves the unlawful taking of property from a person using force, intimidation, or threat; which can lead to significant penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and restitution to the victim.
The case involved two counts, one concerning allegation from Esther Dorley and the other from Jallah Sumo.
The prosecution accused Lamah of robbing Dolleh of $1,000. However, the court found the evidence insufficient to support this claim, leading to a not-guilty verdict for that count.
In criminal cases, the prosecution must prove allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, a standard that was not met in this instance. In contrast, the court was convinced of Lamah’s guilt regarding the second count involving Jallah Sumo.
The court determined that Lamah had taken US $800 from Sumo, which was part of a larger $1,800 settlement he received from Boa Chico Mining Company for damages to his farm.
After Sumo signed for the money on March 23, 2024, Lamah harassed him and unlawfully took the $800. As a result, Lamah was found guilty on this count and initially ordered to pay restitution of $800 to Sumo within six months, with his sentence suspended while he arranged for payment.
However, the situation changed when Lamah’s lawyer announced an appeal to the Supreme Court regarding the guilty verdict for the second count. In light of this appeal, the court amended Lamah’s sentence to five years in prison, with the restitution of $800 still required.
Furthermore, the court removed the security requirements for his criminal appearance and insurance bonds, leading to his immediate incarceration pending the Supreme Court’s review.
This legal proceeding was conducted as a bench trial. Meaning, Judge Wesseh served as both judge and jury, streamlining the process.
Meanwhile, during this August A.D. 2024 term of court, four cases were adjudicated, including two drug-related cases. One of those involved, Ika John, a Nigerian drug dealer from the Dark Forest Community, received seven years sentence.
In addition, three robbery cases were addressed, with Sampson Lamah being sentenced to five years in prison.
A manslaughter case resulted in a three-year sentence for the defendant. Finally, Muhammad Jalloh, involved in another drug case, was sentenced to five years.
