Woman Sentenced to 15 Years for Drug Possession in Kenema Edina Sidie Turay, a trader from Kondebotehun Layout, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the possession of prohibited drugs. The ruling was delivered by Hon. Justice Abdul Sheriff at the High Court in Kenema on June 23, 2026. Turay faced charges under section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008 following an incident on November 19, 2025. During that time, police conducted a raid on her premises and

The World Bank Group has released its July 2026 Country Income Classifications, confirming that Sierra Leone remains in the low-income category. According to the latest update, countries are classified based on Gross National Income (GNI) per capita using the Atlas method. For FY2026, the thresholds are set as follows: low-income economies at US$1,135 or less; lower-middle-income economies from US$1,136 to US$4,495; upper-middle-income economies from US$4,496 to US$13,935; an

The Government of Sierra Leone has announced the temporary suspension of the US$25 Airport Security Fee charged to passengers travelling through the Freetown International Airport, effective Monday, 6 July 2026. The announcement was made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in a public notice issued on Friday, 3 July 2026, stating that the suspension will remain in effect until further notice. According to the Ministry, the decision follows a ministerial directive and forms pa

Western Region Chairman of the All People’s Congress (APC), Kasho J. Holland-Cole, has questioned the Government’s decision to suspend the US$25 Airport Security Fee at the Freetown International Airport, stating that authorities failed to address public concerns for several months before taking action. In a statement posted on social media, Holland-Cole reacted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ announcement that the airport security fee will be temporarily suspended from

Court Grants $500,000 Bail to Suspected Gold Scam Lead Magistrate Mustapha Braima-Jah of the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 has granted bail in the amount of USD 500,000 to Admire Frances Bio-Jalloh following her arraignment on multiple criminal charges. The defendant, identified as a gold dealer, is implicated in an alleged fraudulent scheme involving the theft of approximately USD 210,000. The court established stringent conditions for the release, requiring a surety r