By Janet Sesay
PC Brima Kebbie of Malen chiefdom has testified against Hon. Shaka Samai and 16 others at the on-going ‘poro’ trial presided over by Hannah Bonnie of Pa Demba Road Magistrate Court.
Shaka Samai, is an independent Member of Parliament representing constituency 104 in Pujehun district.
He and co-accused persons were arraigned before magistrate Bonnie for 24 counts of robbery with aggravation, wounding, malicious damage of properties valued at over Le71M among others.
The allegations emanated from forceful initiation of non-members into the ‘Poro’ society.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police Ibrahim Mansaray, the witness told the court he recognized the accused persons and recalled on 21st January, 2019.
On the said date, the witness continued, he was at his house when he got information that the accused persons had forcefully initiated some people into the ‘poro’ society. “Upon such information, I wrote a letter to authorities concerned to stop the initiation,” PC Kebbie narrated. “The letter I wrote was later reduced to a report about the unlawful initiation,” he said.
The report was tendered in evidence and formed part of the court records.
Counsel Loud Jusu is the defence lawyer representing the accused persons in the on-going trial.In his cross-examination, the witness said he is a member and head of the Poro society in his chiefdom.As head of the society, he went on; he was responsible for ordering initiations of anyone into the ‘poro’ society.
On the same day, Mariatu Conteh, an officer of the Operations Support Division of the Sierra Leone Police attached to the SUCFIN Agricultural Company as a guard took the witness stand. She told the court that she recognized the accused and also recalled the said date.
On that day, she said, she was on duty when she and her colleague personnel were instructed to collect 50 palm heads for processing. They were in the bush, according to the witness, when the accused persons appeared and accused them of interfering into their ‘poro’ bush.” “We were about to be taken into the ‘Poro’ when military officers arrived at the scene and rescued us. The soldiers arrested six of the ‘Poro’ members,” she narrated.
The witness also testified that, upon arrest of the six, the other accused persons proceeded to the company and destroyed some properties there. “The arrested ‘Poro’ members were taken to Pujehun police station where statements were obtained from them,” She recounted.
The police charge sheet indicates that the accused persons on Monday 21st January 2019 at SOCFIN Agricultural Company Oil Palm Plantation in Malen chiefdom, in the Pujehun judicial district in the Southern province of the Republic of Sierra Leone conspired with other persons unknown to commit a felony.
During the day’s proceedings, three witnesses were also led in evidence and they narrated similar accounts.
Bail continues for all accused persons and the matter comes up on 4th next month.