By Janet A. Sesay
Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah has on Tuesday, 3rd June, 2025 sent Amidu Sesay and Mohamed Henvan Kargbo to prison when they were dragged to court by musician, Famous, on allegations of assault, disorderly behavior and other related offenses.
Both accused persons stand charged with seven counts of conspiracy to commit a crime contrary to law, assault, occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 47 of the Offense Against the Person’s Act 1861, disorderly behavior contrary to Section 12 of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1973 and intimidation contrary to law.
The indictment states that the accused persons on Saturday, 22nd February, 2025 at Radisson Blu Hotel in Aberdeen in Freetown, conspired together with unknown persons to assault Frederick Peters Jnr, alias Famous and Ibrahim Fofanah in a manner occasioning them actual bodily harm.
The charge sheet furthered that the accused persons on the same day and place did behave in a disorderly manner and also intimated Frederick Peters Jnr alias Famous and Ibrahim Fofanah in a manner thereby making them frightened.
After the charges were read and explained to both accused persons, they pleaded not guilty of the offenses.
The Prosecutor, ACP Joan Bull was backed by ASP Ibrahim Mansaray, Maddieu Sesay, A.S. Sesay and Chernor Kamara.
The Lead Defense Counsel is Z.A. Kanu.
In his testimony, Frederick Peters Jnr alias Famous identified himself as a musician and went on to recognize both accused persons in the dock calling them, “Boys of Kao Denero.”
Famous testified that in the morning of the said day, he was in attendance at a Lady Fest that was organized by Star Zero, a colleague musician.
He said he parked his car at the car park and that as he was trying to enter the hotel, he met Kao Denero and his boys also on the verge of entering the hotel.
He said whiles on his way, one of the “Kao Denero boys” hit him on his shoulder to which he has evidence on the CCTV camera footage at the hotel.
He said the person who hit him is K1 but he is not before the court. Famous went on that one of his Bouncers turned towards the said K1 but that he stopped him.
He added that on his way inside the hotel he saw Star Zero and he went directly to the pool side and sat down. He furthered that he took out his champagne to drink when Kao Denero and the second accused Kargbo confronted him.
He said Kao Denero stood right in front of him and the second accused Kargbo, was standing at his side.
At this juncture, the Defense Counsel, Z.A. Kanu objected that Kao Denero is not before the court, but Prosecutor Bull insisted that the accused persons are charged with the offense of conspiracy.
Magistrate Jah in his ruling pointed out that if there is evidence against Kao Denero whiles the testimony is ongoing before the court, he will make the necessary Court order for him to be arrested and charged.
Continuing his testimony, Famous said Kao Denero started shouting at him that he has bad-heart for him in the music industry and Kao Denero instructed the second accused, Kargbo to spray pepper spray at him which he did.
He said at that moment he felt some suffocation and pain and was unable to do or say anything, but that in the meantime, Kao Denero was busy raining abuses at him and his boys pounced on him and were hitting him.
At this juncture, the Prosecutor ACP Joan Bull sought for a short date for the continuation of the testimony indicating that there is a CCTV footage that needs to be played before the court.
Defense Counsel Kanu made an application for bail on behalf of both accused persons.
He said the accused persons are musicians and colleagues of the complainant Famous.
He said they have fixed abodes and they will not take to their heels, and they will not interfere with the Prosecution witnesses because they do not even know them.
He maintained that the offenses levied against the accused persons are mere allegations, and that they are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
He made his bail application pursuant to Section 79(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act no 32 of 1965.
Prosecutor Bull wanted to object to bail but Magistrate Jah said his pattern is that when accused persons appear before him in court for the first time he does not grant them bail. Both accused persons were therefore remanded in custody and the matter was adjourned to 11th June, 2025 for continuation of Famous’ testimony.