By Alieu Amara Suwu
Former Minister 2 of Finance, Dr. Patricia Laverley, was on Thursday, November 14, 2024, taken to court by the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis, for allegedly assaulting her at State House.
The accused made her first appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on two count charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm contrary to Section 20 of the offense against the Person’s Act of 1861 and assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to law.
The indictment states that the accused, on 12 November 2024, at State House in Freetown, assaulted Nabella Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism, with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on her.
The indictment further states that former Minister Laverley also assaulted Nabeela Farida Tunis in a manner thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.
After the charges were read and explained to the former minister, she pleaded not guilty of the offense.
The state prosecutor, Yusuf Isaac Sesay, requested an adjournment to gather his witnesses and said he would proceed with the matter on the next adjourned date.
Lead Defense Counsel I. Yillah applied for bail on behalf of the accused by citing Section 79(3)(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.
He said the offenses charged against the former Minister Laverley are bailable, adding that the accused was a public officer who was in a cabinet position for four years. He said she is a responsible citizen and not a flight risk, noting that she is the head of the African Development Bank in Tanzania.
Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay opposed bail and referred to his affidavit he filed in opposing bail.
He said the offense is grievous in nature, and the scene of the crime happened at State House.
Magistrate Santigie Bangura, before granting bail, regarded that the former Minister Laverley is working outside the jurisdiction of Sierra Leone, and in consideration of the application made on her behalf by her lawyer, granted her bail in the sum of one hundred thousand Leones with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties he said must be responsible citizens residing in Freetown, and they must be certified by the Freetown City Council.
Magistrate Santigie Bangura further states that the sureties must make an undertaking to the court that they are going to ensure the appearance of the accused before the court, and the accused should not travel outside the country without any expressed permission from the office of the Master and Register.
The bail he ordered should be approved by the master and register of the High Court.
The matter comes up again on 20 November 2024 for hearing.
