By Alieu Amara Suwu
Prosecution witness 1 Abubakarr Mohamed Kamara, Operations Officers stationed at Ross Road Police Station, has on Monday 12th September 2022, in relation to the August 10th demonstration, testified before Magistrate Hadiru Daboh of Ross Road Court No 1.
In his testimony, he claimed that he recognizes all 14 accused persons. He recalled that on Wednesday 10th of August 2022, while he was on duty, Francis Hazely, Commissioner of Police, together with the Local Unit Commander Denis Taylor instructed him to form a team of Police Personnel – both Operational Support team (OSD) and General Duty – to go to Ferry Junction, where a group of people were holding placards, stones and sticks and they are heading to Ross Road Police Station. He said he did not waste time and they booked an inboard a vehicle with registration number SLP 065.
He said immediately the accused persons saw them approaching, they took to their heels to different directions. Furthermore, he said he and his team ran behind them and they were able to apprehend some and others escaped, adding that they brought those they arrested to the Ross Road Police Station and handed over to the CID Department at Ross Road for investigation.
V.A Koroma Esq. after the testimony of the police, cross examined the witness on behalf of the 2nd and 13th accused, joined by R.S. Bangura. Counsel for the 1st accused, R. A. Rashid, also cross examined the witness.
Sumaila Ishmael Alim, Prosecution witness 2 and a Detective Sergeant 10617 attached to the Regional CID Ross Road, Freetown, said he also recognizes all 14 accused persons in the dock. He further recalled on Wednesday 10th August 2022, as he was on duty at the Ross Road Police Station, when the accused persons were arrested and brought to the Station by the Operation Officer and team DSP Abu Bakarr Mohamed Kamara on the offense of riotous conduct.
He asserted that the matter was assigned to him for investigation. He continued that himself and Deputy Sergeant 5600 Marrah TS contemporaneously interviewed the accused separately.
The 2nd Witness was allowed to go further but was stopped by Magistrate Daboh who said to him to come on the next adjourned date to continue with his testimony.
R. A. Bangura Esq. applied for bail by saying most of the accused are pupils, students and parents, and assured that they have reliable sureties to stand on their behalf. He vowed that they will be of good behavior and of safe conduct, and will not interfere with the prosecution witnesses as the defense does not know them. He drew the attention of the Bench that there is no affidavit in opposition to bail serve on them. On judicial notice he told the Bench that the 8th accused Alfred Kabia is mentally ill and the 12th accused Augustine Kokofele is seriously sick. After the bail application made by the lead defense counsel R.A. Bangura Esq. the Prosecutor Sergeant 8534 Gibrilla Sesay opposed the bail application.
Magistrate Daboh refused bail and remanded all accused in custody until 19 September 2022.
It could be recall that all 14 accused persons including Alhassan Kamara, Mohamed Sesay, Timothy Kamara, Mohamed Ibrahim Mansaray and others are before Magistrate Hadiru Daboh of Ross Road Court No 3 on two counts on riotous conduct and disorderly behavior, all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone. According to count 1, all 14 accused persons on Wednesday 10th August 2022, at the East End of Freetown, behaved in a riotous manner. Count 2 alleges that all 14 accused at the same date and place did behave in a disorderly manner.
