By Musa Paul Feika
Five accused, namely Fatmata Mamayo Conteh, James Sorie Samura, Yankay Ya Alimamy and two others, are standing trial at the Ross Road Magistrate Court No. 1, which is presided over by Magistrate Alhaji Suliaman Koroma, for allegedly assaulting and maliciously damaging one Desire mobile phone, which is valued at one million five hundred thousand Leones (Le 1, 500,000), property belonging to the complainant, Landa Macaulay.
The alleged incident took place on diverse dates between the 19th August and 19th June this year at the Kissy Police Division.
The police prosecution witness, Detective Police Constable, Sahr Edward Sheku, attached to the Kissy Police Division, told the court that he recognized the accused and he could recall the day in question. He continued his evidence that he was on duty at the Kissy Police Division in Freetown when the complainant, Landa Macaulay, reported a matter that had to with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, larceny and malicious damage.
Mr. Sheku further testified that he issued a police medical request form to the complainant for treatment at the Rokupa Government Hospital, Wellington in Freetown, adding that, on 5th August 2020, the complainant later returned the endorsed medical paper to the Kissy Police Division, and made a statement in respect of the matter.
The medical request form was tendered in court to form part of the court`s record. He added that he obtained statements from the complainant and her witnesses. He said the complainant handed over to him a damaged Desire 530 mobile phone, and, according to him, he handed it over to the Exhibit Clerk at the Kissy Police Division.
On diverse dates, between 19th August 2019 and 19th June 2020, he obtained voluntary caution statements from the complainant procedurally, noting that, at the end of their statements, they affixed their right hand thumbs, which was witnessed by Detective Police Constable 14097 Kamara Umaru.
All the court statements of the accused were produced and tendered separately, in court, to form part of the court`s records. The witness eventually stated that, on the 19th June 2020, he charged the accused with the offences of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, larceny, and malicious.
The police charge sheet adduces that all the accused, on diverse dates between the 18th August 2019 and 19th June 2020, at the Kissy Police Division in Freetown, maliciously damaged one Desire mobile 530, and at the same time and address, assaulted the complainant, Landa Macaulay, in a manner thereby causing her grievous bodily harm.
The accused are still on bail and the matter comes 28th August, 2020.