A 58-year-old chef, Moses Sarrah Sesay, appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in connection with the alleged murder of Zainab Jalloh in Tombo Village, Western Rural Area. Sesay was formally informed of the murder charge brought against him. The court denied the accused bail due to the seriousness of the alleged offence. The case has been adjourned to Friday, October 30, 2026.
According to the prosecution, Sesay allegedly murdered Zainab Jalloh between Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Tombo Village, located in Sierra Leone’s Western Rural Area. The accused was charged under Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, as amended by Section 1(a) of the Schedule to the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act, 2021 (Act No. 6 of 2022).
Under Sierra Leone’s amended legislation, the death penalty has been abolished, with life imprisonment now representing the maximum punishment for murder. During Wednesday’s proceedings, Magistrate Fornah read and explained the charge to Sesay. No plea was entered, as the matter remains at the preliminary inquiry stage. The allegations against Sesay have not been established in court, and he remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Following the reading of the charge, Magistrate Fornah ordered that Sesay be remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The decision was made in light of the gravity of the alleged offence. Sesay, who appeared in court without legal representation, acknowledged receiving the relevant legal documents concerning the case.
The court proceedings did not establish the circumstances surrounding Jalloh’s death or the evidence allegedly linking the accused to the incident. Those matters are expected to be examined as the prosecution presents its case. Police Prosecutor Inspector Florence Wilson informed the court that the accused had been served with copies of the case file and preliminary inquiry documents.
The prosecution is expected to begin presenting witness testimony when proceedings resume. The case is currently at the committal stage, during which the magistrate examines the prosecution’s evidence to determine whether there are sufficient grounds for the accused to stand trial before the High Court.
The proceedings are governed by Sierra Leone’s Criminal Procedure Act 2024, which establishes procedures and timelines for preliminary inquiries and committal proceedings. Magistrate Fornah adjourned the matter to Friday, October 30, 2026, to allow the prosecution to secure the attendance of its witnesses. Sesay will remain in custody pending further court proceedings.
Key points
- The accused was charged under Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
- The case has been adjourned to Friday, October 30, 2026.
- Sesay remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
