By Janet A. Sesay
Appeals Court Judge, Justice Samuel Taylor has reviewed the bail conditions of former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma to seek medical attention.
Justice Taylor granted the bail following an application made Koroma’s defence lawyer to travel out of Sierra Leone for medication.
The application was granted and the matter adjourned to 6th March, this year.
Koroma is standing trial for treason charges brought against him by the state, but he was absent in court during Wednesday’s proceedings owing to adverse health condition.
Counsel Kamara showed a copy of his client’s medical report to the Prosecution and the court.
In response to the application, one of the state counsels said he wanted the court to go through the medical report before he could comment on it.
After the document had been read, the state counsel argued that it was prudent to have the author of the document in court to test its veracity.
He also argued that he trusted the defence team but Koroma’s absence had deprived them of proceeding with the matter.
“We have two witnesses to testify in today’s hearing,” he informed the court adding that he feared that the accused might use the bail conditions as an excuse from attending court.
Counsel Kamara said his client, on several occasions, had been in court for interview sessions by the Criminal Investigation Department and the Anti-corruption Commission.
Magistrate Bangura said he had taken judicial notice of the order by the high Court and wished Ernest Bai Koroma a speedy recovery.
He admonished the two sides that the matter before the court was a preliminary investigation, adding that the two sides should be in court to speed up the proceedings.