By Alieu Amara Suwu
Lead Defense Counsel Leon Jenkinson Johnson for the former Minister of Finance, Patricia Laverly, has on Wednesday 4th December 2024 pleaded with the court for an adjournment in order to settle the matter out of court.
He made this plead after the matter was mentioned and the former Minister was absent again, defying the court order that she should be present in court or else her sureties will be remanded.
Despite defying the court order, the Magistrate has been soft hearted on two occasions to act upon his own ruling because of her status.
He initially ruled that if the accused is not in court on Monday 2nd December 2024, he would issue a warrant of arrest for her in which he did not act upon.
On the same Monday, he indicated that if the accused is not present in court on Wednesday, he would arrest her sureties. This he did not do.
Defense counsel Leon Jenkinson Johnson informed the court that there is a line of action they seek to take in the interest of the progress of the matter.
He therefore sought leave for the matter to be adjourned to Monday so that they can actively pursue that line of action that will result in meaningful progress in the matter.
State Counsel Sesay responded that as long as the defense are very genuine in whatever line of action they are seeking to take they (prosecution) are not adverse to anything that will bring justice to the matter. He added that they would love to see that line of action on Monday.
State Counsel further that the line of action the defense want to take must tally with the order of the court by bringing the accused to ensure justice is served on the victim. In a criminal law, he said it is written that a matter cannot proceed in court without the accused not being in court.
Defense counsel Johnson further reply that they would ensure that the matter be resolved.
Magistrate Bangura having listened to both sides, said he is hoping that the next line of action the defense is trying to take would be fruitful.
He however granted the application for an adjournment to resolve the said matter. The matter was adjourned to the 9th December 2024.
