Magistrate Harold Kamara of the Magistrate Holding Court in Masiaka Town has committed Marouf Farouk Kamara to the High Court to stand trial for unlawful possession of ammunition without a license.

The ruling was delivered on 27th February 2026 by Magistrate Harold Kamara in Criminal Session Case No. 064/2026, between the Inspector General of Police and the defendant.

Kamara is charged with unlawful possession of ammunition without a license, contrary to Section 22(1) of the Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition Act No. 24 of 2023.

According to the particulars of offence, the defendant was arrested on 2nd December 2024 at the Port Loko Road checkpoint in Masiaka Town, Port Loko Judicial District, where he was allegedly found in possession of one 7.62 by 39mm calibre live round without lawful authority.

The matter proceeded by way of committal proceedings due to the indictable nature of the offence. No plea was taken at arraignment.

The prosecution was conducted on behalf of the Inspector General of Police by Sergeant 7716 Sesay A.M., who tendered several exhibits in support of the case. These included written statements from the arresting officer, Augustin Aruna Gbla (PW1), and Ibrahim Kargbo (PW2), which detailed the circumstances of the arrest and recovery of the ammunition at the Masiaka checkpoint.

Other exhibits presented before the court included a Police Abstract Report, an endorsed search warrant, a request for ballistic examination, and a ballistic examination report confirming that the recovered item was indeed a 7.62 by 39mm calibre live round. The physical exhibit was also produced in court.

The prosecution further tendered the defendant’s voluntary cautioned statement in which he admitted that the live round was found in his pocket and explained how he came into possession of it. A charge statement and a progressive crime report were also submitted.

At the close of the prosecution’s case, the defendant, who was unrepresented, informed the court that he did not wish to cross-examine any of the prosecution witnesses.

In his ruling, Magistrate Kamara stated that at the committal stage, the court’s duty is to determine whether the prosecution has established a prima facie case sufficient to justify committing the matter to the High Court. He referenced the legal test established in R v Galbraith (1981), which provides that a prima facie case exists where the evidence, if unchallenged, could lead a reasonable tribunal to convict.

The Magistrate held that the prosecution had established credible evidence showing that the defendant was found in possession of ammunition, that the ammunition was confirmed through ballistic examination, and that no lawful license or authority had been presented. He also noted that the defendant admitted possession in his voluntary statement and did not challenge the prosecution’s evidence.

Accordingly, the court ruled that a prima facie case had been established against Marouf Farouk Kamara and ordered that he be committed to the High Court to stand trial for unlawful possession of ammunition without a license.

The defendant was ordered to remain in custody pending trial before the High Court of Justice.