By Musa Paul Feika
A Sierra Leone comedian, Franklyn William, popular known as “Rumpel” during his testimony before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No. 2 said the accused, Alicious Deen Tawarally, alias “Arata Paopa”, promised to kill all Sierra Leonean comedians.
Rumpel made this revelation during yesterday’s proceeding while testifying before Magistrate Ngegba how Ararta and his men robbed him of his Samsung mobile phone valued at one million, five hundred thousand leones (Le1,500,000) and eight hundred and sixty-three thousand leones (Le863,000) in cash on Monday, 4 April 2022,at around 4am at the Lumley roundabout.
In continuation of his testimony and led by Inspector Amie Korio, prosecution witness (PW) 1, Franklyn William told the court that he recognised the accused and could recall the day in question.
He said on that day he was at the Lumley roundabout at around 4am when, after crossing to the other side of the street, the accused confronted and demanded money from him, which he gave to him.
‘Suddenly, the accused started hitting my back and I politely advised him not to do such to me. When I made that utterance, the accused sprayed my eyes with a paper spray. He and his men then slappedme, continued hitting me and vowed that he has to kill all Sierra Leonean comedians,’ Rumpel narrated to the bench.
The popular comedian recounted that he was rescued by onlookers, adding that on the following day, he reported the matter to the Lumley Police Division in Freetown.
It may be recalled that last month, Arata Paopa was before Magistrate Ngegba on two police case files; carrying an offensive weapon and malicious damage and jointly charged with another man with robbery with aggravation. Arata was jointly charged with his accomplice, Musa Kamara with conspiracy and robbery with aggravation, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The police say Alicious Deen Tawarally and Musa Kamara, on the aforesaid time and date at the Lumley roundabout in Freetown, conspired with unknown persons to commit a felony, to wit, robbery.
The charge sheet adduced that on the same date and place in Freetown the accused robbed complainant Franklyn William of his Samsung mobile phone valued at one million, five hundred thousand leones (Le1,500,000) and cash amount of eight hundred and sixty-three thousand leones (Le863,000).
The accused were not legally represented. During cross examination by first accused Arata, he asked the witness how long he had known him. In response, he said he had known him for many years.
He asked the witness whether he was issued with a police medical request form for treatment when he reported the matter to the Lumley Police Division, which he answered in the affirmative.
Alicious Deen Tawarally suggested to PW1 that throughout his evidence-in-chief, he never mentioned the said medical paper, which he again answered in the affirmative.
Eventually, he put it to the witness that everything he had narrated to the court was not true. Responding, PW1 said all he had narrated to the court weren’t lies, but the truth.
The second accused, Musa Kamara intimated the bench that he had no questions for PW1. The duo were refused bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to 23 April 2022.