Summary: Mohamed Bawoh is a Justice of the High Court of Sierra Leone who has provided justice for the poor and the needy, despite constant threats to his personal safety. He upholds fairness in his dispensation of justice and as a result has been threatened and physically attacked.

Profile: “The risks serving as a judge are enormous. Some of them emanate from the political divide, tribal division, and political interests,” said Justice Mohamed Bawoh.

Rulings and judgments typically mean taking away something from one person or group of people, causing displeasure at a minimum. Yet, Justice Bawoh remains unruffled in his practice of dispensing justice. He was called to the Bar in 2007 and has consistently served Sierra Leoneans ever since.

Sometimes, when he takes critical decisions against influential men in society—mostly politicians—he is exposed to danger. Even some of his relatives have been threatened. His family house was set ablaze as a result of a decision against rogue elements whose desires to get the law twisted in their favor were not met.

“Being a lawyer,” says Bawoh, “just like a judge, involves serious physical, online, and emotional abuse, but I am committed to deliver justice even if the Heavens fall. Dispensing justice fairly to those who deserve it despite their political, social, and economic standing is much more an innate responsibility, and the law must always be upheld. Justice is to be dispensed fairly, even in the face of bribery, intimidation, friendship, and the like.” Bawoh has also been an ardent believer against sexual penetration of girls and gender-based violence. That has been characterized in his judgments, leading to long-term sentences for sexual predators.

Justice Bawoh has worked at Amnesty International, the United Nations in Sierra Leone, and the Special Court for Sierra Leone, in addition to having served as Director of Investigations and Legal Services at the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone. He is also a Defence Counsel at Legal Aid and a Magistrate.

“All these years of professional experience have shaped me as a person,” acknowledges Bawoh. Regardless of the consequences, he is clearly committed to providing justice.