By Musa Paul Feika
Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Pademba Road Magistrate Court No.1 has incarcerated Sulaiman Issa Kamara for allegedly committing human trafficking, which is contrary to section 2 (2) of the Anti-Human Trafficking Act of 2005.
The accused was previously granted a fifty million leones bail with one surety. Magistrate Hannah Bonnie withdrew the bail during the sittings on the grounds that the surety has not been truthful to the court. The surety has earlier on informed the court that the accused was admitted at the Satellite Hospital in Freetown.
Upon verification by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mohamed Massaquoi, jointly with the surety it was discovered that the accused was never admitted as claimed by the surety. Magistrate Bonnie was left with no option but to withdraw the bail and the accused was subsequently remanded.
Detective Police Constable 13905, Mohamed Yusuf Jalloh, attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) Hastings, Freetown, testified before the court and noted that he recognizes the accused and the complainant ( Abubakar Koroma) regarding the matter before the court and could also recall the 14th May 2019.
The witness continued that, on the day in question, he was on duty on at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) Hastings when the complainant arrested and brought in the accused at TOCU. He made a report of human trafficking on behalf of his wife and the victim, Fatamata Kamara.
He recounted that he obtained statements from the complainant and her witnesses. He also obtained caution statements from the accused together with Detective Police Constable 9399 Kamara M.
The Police witness added that, at the end of his statement, the accused admitted it to be true and correct by affixing his right hand thump print, which, according to him, was witnessed by Detective Police Constable 9299 Kamara M.
The witness furthered that, during the course of the investigation, he discovered a money gram receipt from Alie Kamara, which was tendered in court and marked exhibits C1-2.
Mr. Jalloh also said that, on the 6th May 2019, he charged the accused with the offences of recruiting by means of deception, transportation by means of deception, transferring by means of deception and conspiracy to defraud, which are all contrary to law.
The accused is before the court on four count charges, all contrary to law.
Police file sheet indicates that, Sulaiman Issa Kamara, on the 14th May 2019 in Freetown, by means of deception and defraud, transported Fatamata Kamara for the purpose of exploitation from Freetown to Conakry.
The accused was remanded and the matter was adjourned to the 3rd June, 2019.