By Musa Paul Feika
Abu-Bakr Samura, Junior Kamara and three other accused are standing trial at the Ross Road Magistrates’ Court No. 1 for allegedly robbing one Isha Sesay of certain valuable properties worth Le10, 105, 000.00 (Ten Million One Hundred and Five Thousand Leones), with Magistrate Alhaji Suliaman Koroma presiding.
The robbery took place on Wednesday 1st July, 2020 at No. 48 Looking Town, Kissy in Freetown.
The police prosecution witness, Isha Sesay told the court that she recognized the accused and could recall the day of the incident.
According to the witness, who is also the complainant, on that day she was at home with her husband, another complainant in the matter, at around 20:30p.m. or thereabout when the first, second and third accused suddenly opened the door and entered into their bedroom.
The witness said after entering into the room, the accused asked her to lay flat on the ground and close her eyes, adding that the accused told her that they wanted her husband’s head.
Mrs. Sesay furthered that she refused to follow their instruction and the first accused Pujeh Kamara stabbed her with a night on her right arm for her refusing to close her eyes and the stab would started oozing blood.
The witness told the court that when the robbers were still on their act, the second and third accused had an altercation with her husband inside the room, whilst the fourth and fifth accused were carting away certain viable properties valued at Le10,105,000.00.
The witness further testified that they later screamed for help and neighbours came to their rescue and ran after the accused but were unable to catch any of them. She however said one of the accused left his pair of slippers and torchlight at their door.
The witness said on the following day she reported the matter to the Kissy Police Division in Freetown, where she said she was issued with a police medical request form for treatment at the Rokupa Government Hospital at Wellington.
She said she returned the endorsed medical form to the Kissy Police Division and the matter was charged to court.
The accused are standing trial on several count charges of robbery with aggravation, wounding with intent, wounding and other related offences that are all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The police charge sheet indicates that the accused on Wednesday 1st July, this year, at No. 48 Looking Town, Kissy in Freetown robbed the complainant Isha Sesay certain valuable items worth Le10, 105, 000.00.
The indictment furthered that on the same date and address, the accused wounded the complainant in a manner thereby causing her grievous bodily harm.
The Defense Counsel, Madieu Sesay applied for bail on behalf of his clients but his application was not granted and the accused were sent in remand at the Pademba Road Male Correctional Centre in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to 10th August, 2020.
Witness Testifies In House Breaking &Larceny Trial
By Musa Paul Feika
Police prosecution witness, Ibrahim Sorie Conteh, yesterday testified before Magistrate Alhaji Sulaiman Koroma of Ross Road Court No.1 in the trial of Tejan Will, who is charged with the offences of house breaking and larceny contrary to the Larceny Act of 1816.
The witness in his testimony said he recognized the accused and the complainant, Tejan Will and Fatmata Sesay and that he would recall 7th June, 2020.
According to the witness, he was at home sleeping on his bedroom when the screaming of his wife, “Look at Tejan! Looked at Tejan!” woke him up, adding that immediately he woke up he saw the accused and chased him but was unable to catch him.
The witness said he later discovered that certain items including a ladies’ bag containing Le1, 100, 000.00 (One Million One Hundred Thousand Leones) cash were carted away by the accused.
In concluding his evidence, the witness noted that on the following morning, he reported the matter at the Kissy Police Division in Freetown and a team of detective police officers visited the crime scene and took photographs. He added that the accused was apprehended, detained in police cells and later charged to court.
The police charge sheet states that the accused on 7th June, 2020 at Kissy in Freetown broke and entered into the premises of the complainant and stole therein certain properties worth millions of Leones.
Though the accused was unrepresented, he was granted (Le 10,000,000.00) bail with two sureties in like sum and bail must be approved by the Master and Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to 10th August, 2020.