By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone – In a case of alleged cybercrime, Mohamed Kabia, a 33-year-old student, made another court appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2, charged with cyberbullying contrary to Section 44(1)(b) of the Cyber Security and Crime Act of 2021.
According to the charge sheet, on 13th January 2025, in Freetown, the accused allegedly used his WhatsApp account number +23277862052, under the username “MAGBOKEH BORBOR,” to post defamatory and bullying messages targeting Robert Saila Kamara, the Manager of Leone Rock Metal Group. The messages were reportedly intended to cause psychological harm.
When the charge was read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken.
Led in evidence by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, the prosecution’s first witness, Robert Saila Kamara, testified that he was familiar with the accused as they had previously lived in the same house. Kamara recalled that on the date in question, while serving as SLPP District Secretary in Tonkolili, he was informed by party members including Mariama Jalloh and Mohamed C. Conteh (aka Tinka Lansana) about a damaging post against him circulating in a WhatsApp forum.
Kamara said he was not part of the forum at the time, but requested screenshots of the message, which were forwarded to him. The post, allegedly made by Kabia, claimed that Kamara had been suspended from office due to criminal activity. He added that a close friend of the accused had made similar defamatory statements about him the previous year, for which he had opted to forgive.
Kamara presented printed screenshots of the post as evidence, which were marked and tendered in court as “Exhibit Z.” He stated that the defamatory content was shared across multiple WhatsApp groups, including “Constituency New Direction,” “Vision State House,” and “Radical Inclusion,” where his photo was used and he was labeled a thief.
Kamara further testified that as a result of the viral post, he was suspended from his job. He reported the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters at Pademba Road, after which the accused was arrested on a warrant and gave a statement to police.
Given the seriousness of the offense, Magistrate Fornah denied bail and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to 17th June 2025 for continuation of proceedings.
