The National Protected Area Authority (NPAA) has delivered another decisive blow against conservation crime, as 17 accused persons arrested at the Outamba-Kilimi National Park in Karene District appeared before Magistrate Ishmail Kabinneh at the Mana Hill Magistrate Court in Makeni and pleaded guilty to all four counts brought against them. Mohamed Sheriff, Alpha Williams, Augustine Dick, Ibrahim Kargbo, Ibrahim Turay, Must Conteh, Alusine Kamara, Mohamed Kamara, Abdulai Kamara, Issa Sheriff, Francis Ernest, Emmanuel Sheriff, Kaifala Sheriff, Mabinty Kamara, Mummy Kaitor, Mariama Kaitor and Haja Bah admitted to conspiracy, illegal mining within a protected area, unlawful entry, and illegal deforestation charges that strike at the heart of the illegal activity threatening Sierra Leone’s first and largest National Park, which is an important biodiversity stronghold. A powerhouse legal team representing the State led the prosecution: Dauda Laingay Bangura, Esq., I. Bangura Legal SLP, and Police Officer 17302. All 17 accused stood present in the dock; their defence counsel did not appear. Faced with the weight of the State’s case, all 17 entered guilty pleas. Despite the unanimous guilty pleas, Magistrate Kabinneh declined to rush to sentencing. In a move underscoring judicial diligence, he ordered the prosecution to formally present its full body of physical and circumstantial evidence at the next hearing, ensuring the environmental damage caused is comprehensively documented on the court record before any penalties are handed down. The matter has been adjourned to Thursday, September 17, 2026, when the prosecution team will lay out its complete case. The swift courtroom action is the latest demonstration of the NPAA’s aggressive institutional rebranding, a strategy built on pairing intensive field surveillance with unyielding legal prosecution. The Authority’s message is unambiguous: Sierra Leone’s protected areas are strictly off-limits, and those who illegally encroach, log, or mine within the nation’s biodiversity hotspots will be swiftly caught, tried, and held fully accountable under the law. The NPAA has already secured 17 guilty pleas, with a full evidentiary hearing set for 17th September, 2026. The Outamba-Kilimi case clearly signals the NPAA’s renewed resolve to defend Sierra Leone’s protected areas and warns anyone who might consider testing that resolve.
Caught, Charged, Prosecuted: NPAA’s Outamba-Kilimi Sweep Nets 17 Guilty Pleas
