Landmark Victory In Lunsar Court: Marampa Mines Case Crumbles Under Legal Scrutiny
A significant legal precedent was set recently at the Magistrate Court holden at Lunsar, where Senior Magistrate Hadiru Daboh delivered a landmark judgment in Case No. CS 42/24, acquitting and discharging Augustine Yamba, Sulaiman Kamara, Abu Bakarr Koroma, and James Mac-Gooding of all charges brought against them by Marampa Mines Ltd.
The acuused persons had been facing serious criminal allegations, including:
Conspiracy contrary to law
Malicious damage contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act, 1861
Accessory after the fact contrary to Section 3 of the Accessories and Abettors Act, 1861
The prosecution was led by Chief Superintendent of Police Zizer T. B. Esq., and Assistant Superintendent of Police I. Bangura, and T. Conteh Esq., who appeared not as a state prosecutor, but in his capacity as corporate counsel for Marampa Mines Ltd, closely associating with the prosecution.
However, the Prosecution’s case was plagued with inconsistencies, hearsay evidence, and a clear misapplication of the relevant legal charges. These flaws became increasingly apparent over the protracted life of the case, which passed through four different magistrates before finally being adjudicated by Senior Magistrate Daboh.
The Defence, led by Willie J. Fofana Esq., mounted a vigorous and legally sound challenge to the Prosecution’s case. In a compelling closing argument, W.J. Fofana Esq. dismantled the charges and highlighted Marampa Mines Ltd’s own failures to adhere to their legal and contractual obligations—specifically, Clause 9.3 of the Employment Agreement between the company and its employees, and key provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, of which Marampa Mines Ltd is a signatory.
In a striking development, the Prosecution failed to file any response to the Defence’s closing argument, even after being granted a three-month extension by the court to do so. This silence further underscored the Prosecution’s inability to support its case with legal merit or evidential weight.
In his judgment, Senior Magistrate Daboh ruled that the Prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case and dismissed all charges against the accused persons. The ruling was widely seen as a vindication of the accused and a rebuke of the manner in which the criminal justice system was weaponized in the interests of a powerful corporate entity.
Following the acquittal, Mr. Fofana served a formal letter before action on Marampa Mines Ltd, demanding compensation for malicious prosecution, emotional distress, and reputational damage suffered by his clients. However, Marampa Mines Ltd refused to respond or offer any compensation.
As a result, Mr. Fofana has now confirmed his intention to file a civil lawsuit in the High Court of Sierra Leone, seeking damages for malicious prosecution and wrongful use of the criminal justice process.
“This case was an abuse of process from the outset. My clients were falsely accused, dragged through court without evidence, and subjected to emotional, social, and financial harm. The court has spoken. The next step is accountability,” said Willie J. Fofana Esq.
This case has far-reaching implications for corporate accountability, employee rights, and the integrity of the criminal justice system in Sierra Leone. Legal observers say the forthcoming civil case could establish a vital precedent in curbing malicious prosecution by corporate actors and reinforcing the legal protections owed to citizens under contract and constitutional law.
