By Janet Sesay
Ten accused, who identified themselves as Mustapha Bundu, alias Bombalie, Sarjor Barrie, Idrissa Gbanabou, Hindolo Morinama Junior, Amara Beah, Osman Bangalie, Borbor Gberie, Dauda Pessima, Mohammed Lavalie and James Harvey, have made their first appearance before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Court No.1.
The accused are alleged to have kidnapped four (4) individuals and also stole four (4) goats and fourteen (14) sheep. The items stolen are valued at eleven million, seven hundred thousand leones (Le11,700,000).
The accused are standing trial on six counts, ranging from conspiracy, unlawful assembly, kidnapping, disorderly behavior, larceny and threatening language, which are al contrary to law.
Court details state that the accused, between Friday 15th and Monday 19th February 2019, at Moriba town in the Imperi chiefdom, Bonthe Judicial district in the southern province of the Republic of Sierra Leone, conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a felony, to wit unlawful assembly.
The court details further state that the accused, on the same day at the same place, were found unlawfully assembling and also behaved in a disorderly manner.
On the same day, the accused also unlawfully took and carried away Ibrahim Bah, Chernor Jalloh, Musa Bah and Mark Allieu Swarray and other persons unknown, from all over Moriba town, in the Imperi chiefdom against their wish. They have also been accused of using threatening remarks on Tommy Moriba with the view to provoke him to commit the breach of peace.
The court details ended that the accused also, on the same day, stole four goats and fourteen sheep that have a total value of eleven million, seven hundred thousand leones Le11,700,000).
No plea was taken after the charges were read to the accused. Police prosecutor, ASP Ibrahim Mansaray, sought for an adjourned date against the backdrop that his witnesses were not present in court.
Lead defense counsel, E.T. Enoch, in his own submission, made two applications before the court. He asked for a discharge of the matter, and noted that the prosecution is not ready to move on with the matter.
He continued that the accused were arrested from Moriba Town, taken to Bo and later transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department in Freetown. He said the accused have been in custody for twenty-three days, which is violation to their human rights. He made this application pursuant to Section 94 of the Criminal Procedure Act No 32 of 1965.
The right of the accused, at this stage, the defense noted, should be protected. He made another application under section 43 (4) of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone.
In reply,the prosecutor stated that the matter should not be discharged because they have just received the file. He prayed that a reasonable bench should not grant such an application.
He also objected to bail being granted to the accused because they are standing trial for kidnapping, which is a felonious offence. The accused, according to him, are not ordinarily resident in Freetown and that their addresses are not properly stated in the file and hence they pose a flight risk.
Magistrate Hannah Bonnie granted each accused fifty million leones bail and one surety in like sum. Each surety should be a responsible citizen resident in Freetown and each should produce a national identification or voter ID card and bail should be approved by the deputy acting Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to the 20th March 2019.