Sierra Leone High Court Sentences Rapper Boss LAJ to 9 years in Prison
By Abdul Hassan Fackie,
Freetown, Sierra Leone
March 17, 2023
High Court Judge, Justice Adrian Fisher, has on Friday 17 March 2023, sentenced popular rapper, Alhaji Amadu Bah popularly known as ‘Boss LAJ’ to 9 years imprisonment and ordered him to pay compensation to the victims in the sum of forty thousand leones (Le40,000.00) new money.
Boss LA was found guilty on Monday, 13 March 2023 on all four counts of charges levied against him, which include robbery and assault contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
It was alleged that in August 2022, Boss LA broke out a fight at the Leonco Fueling Station at Congo Cross in the west of Freetown where he beat up the pump attendant and got away with her sales.
Before his sentencing, LAJ accepted responsibility for the crimes he was convicted of and pleaded for mercy.
He acknowledged the negative impact of his actions on the victims and the Leonco Petrol Station and apologized for his behaviour.
Although he denied being a thief, he has shown remorse and asked for forgiveness.
He emphasized that he is a giver and a man of peace.
The rapper also highlighted the positive impact of his music on his fans and colleagues, which he pointed out has been bringing people together and promoting peace in the country.
In his mitigation statement, he also stated that he has collaborated with President Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Mrs. Fatima Bio to promote peace, stressing that he made a lot of positive contributions to the society and he is ready to make amends and become a changed man.
Boss LAJ apologized to his family, friends, fans and the people of Sierra Leone for his bad behaviour and promised that he will change his ways and become a better person.
Regardless of the outcome of the incident and the court decision, many in Sierra Leone politics have attested that Boss LAJ's incarceration was an intended plot by the current SLPP government, an act of revenge for nothing against mainstream APC supporters. Inasmauch as LAJ is going through this, Boss LAJ has always maintain that he's not a supporter of the APC party but the SLPP miscalculated him and made him a scapegoat and have him spent his 9 years of life at the Pademba Road maximum prison in Freetown..
