Nuru Deen Gets 9 Years Imprisonment For Migrant Smuggling

By Fatima Sesay

Court of Appeal Judge, Honourable Justice Tonia Barnett, has sentenced Nuru Deen Bangapoma Bangura, a 40-year-old businessman, to nine years’ imprisonment for Migrant Smuggling, contrary to Section 20(1) of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2022, Act No. 12 of 2022.

According to the indictment, Nuru Deen Bangapoma Bangura and his brother, Sheik Ibrahim Bangapoma Bangura, were jointly charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit Migrant Smuggling and one count of Migrant Smuggling under Section 20(1) of the Act.

The prosecution, led by State Counsel A. Jalloh, informed the Court that between 1st September 2023 and 30th April 2024 in Freetown, the accused conspired with others to commit Migrant Smuggling.

It was also alleged that Nuru Deen obtained financial benefits from one Nyuma Lamin Tengbeh between 5th September 2023 and 25th April 2024, under the pretext of facilitating his travel and stay in the United States, an action deemed illegal under the law.

The prosecution further revealed that Nuru Deen reached an agreement with Nyuma Lamin Tengbeh and his elder brother, Sinnah Manley, to arrange overseas travel. He reportedly convinced their community headman to persuade the victim’s mother to sell their property for Three Hundred Million New Leones (NLe 300,000,000). Following this, he demolished a perimeter fence protecting the said land.

It was also revealed that another perimeter fence was constructed after purchase by the new buyer of the said land.The said purchase was solely facilitated by the first Defendant, Nuru Deen, who’s now the convict.

“Nyuma Lamin Tengbeh never travelled to the United States. Instead, he was taken to Guinea and later flown to Kazakhstan, where he remains in poor health,” the prosecution stated.

The two Defendants (Nuru Deen Bangapoma Bangura and Sheik Ibrahim Bangapoma Bangura) pleaded not guilty to the charges.

To support its case, the prosecution presented seven witnesses, while the convict, Nuru Deen, called one witness. The second Defendant, Sheik Ibrahim, did not call any witness.

In her judgment, Honourable Justice Barnett JA stated that overwhelming evidence, particularly from the first Defendant himself, confirmed that he had “travelled with Lamin Tengbeh to Kazakhstan.”

The Judge noted that no evidence was presented to show that the first Defendant is a Consular Officer, a member of a Humanitarian Organisation, or a licensed individual authorised to arrange or facilitate cross-border migration or resettlement.

“The first Defendant is therefore found guilty of the offence charged in Count Two as indicated on the indictment,” said Honourable Justice Tonia Barnett, JA.

She accordingly sentenced Nuru Deen Bangapoma Bangura to nine (9) years’ imprisonment on Count Two (Migrant Smuggling), and acquitted and discharged both Nuru Deen and Sheik Ibrahim Bangapoma Bangura on Count One (conspiracy to commit Migrant Smuggling).

In addition, the Court ordered that the property located at No. 67 Mongegba, Regent Road, Grafton, Freetown, which was sold, be retrieved by the Undersheriff’s Department and returned to its original owner.

She went on to order that the victim be compensated the sum of Two Hundred Thousand New Leones (NLe. 200,000,00) for emotional trauma, and the said money be paid immediately.

The Judge also ordered the repatriation of the victim, who is currently staying in Kazakhstan in poor health.

Justice Barnett finally ordered that the passport of the second Defendant be handed over to him by the Court Registrar.

The Defendants were represented by I. Turay Esq.