By Janet A. Sesay
Appeal Court Judge, Justice Tonia Barnett yesterday, 4th March 2025 discharged Hawa Madina Hunt and ordered that her Canadian and Sierra Leonean passports seized from her be returned with immediate effect.
Hawa was dragged to court from a reality TV show she was participating in, on Cyber Security Crime charges allegedly against the First Lady, Fatima Bio and the President, Julius Maada Bio.
Hunt was arraigned before the court on two count charges under the Cyber Security Crime Act 2021, Act No. 7 of 2021, for allegedly sending insulting messages via a computer system.
The indictment states that Hunt, between April 1 and April 30, 2024, allegedly used her Facebook account to post messages aimed at insulting the First Lady of Sierra Leone, Madam Fatima Jabbie Bio, and President Julius Maada Bio.
The indictment furthered that the said posts shared via social media, have been derogatory and intended to damage their reputations, provoke breaches of the peace, and cause public apprehension.
After the charges were read and explained to her, she pleaded not guilty of the offense.
The Lead Prosecutor, Yusuf Isaac Sesay said Hunt is being arraigned before the court, but that they wished to offer no further evidence against her and therefore asked for a discharge of the matter.
Sesay further submitted that in reaching this decision, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Osman Kanu invoked Section 66(4) Paragraph C of the Constitution of Sierra Leone of 1991 which states that the DPP has the power to discontinue a matter at any stage before judgment is handed down.
He said the DPP has now desired to discontinue the matter which is the State vs. Hawa Madina Hunt. He urged the Judge to discontinue and unquestionably discharge the matter.
Defense Counsel Rashid Dumbuya thanked the DPP as an extension to the office of the Attorney General for the discontinuation of the matter.
He however pleaded with the Judge to make an order for the return of his client’s travelling documents lodged at the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department, pointing out that the CID have in their custody the Canadian and Sierra Leonean Passports of his client, Hawa Hunt.
He also pleaded with the Judge to acquit and discharge the matter.
At this juncture, Justice Barnett in her ruling noted that the matter has not been heard full blown, adding that it was the first time the accused is appearing before her court.
She said the Defense should only ask for a discharge of the accused and not include acquitted to it, because the matter has never been heard before the High Court.
She said in this case the court only has the power to discharge as it is not a bar because they can come back, adding that Hunt only took her plea before the court.
State Counsel Sesay in reply said they are not opposing to whatever application made by the Defense as long as the application did not come with injustice.
After hearing both sides, the learned Judge discharged Hawa Hunt and ordered that both her Canadian and Sierra Leonean passports be returned to her.
