By Janet A. Sesay
Musu Rosaline Aruna Conteh, an Administrative Officer in the Office of National Security (ONS), on Wednesday, 14th August 2024 testified before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 against Pastor Fatorma Tommy Jusu, accused of operating a private security company without valid license.
As the proprietor, Pastor Fatoma Tommy Jusu is arraigned on a count charge of operating a private security outfit without a valid license contrary to Section 31 (8) of the National Security and Central Intelligence Act of 2023.
The indictment states that Pastor Jusu, on 5th July 2024 at Leicester Road in Freetown, Western Urban District, operated a private security agency without valid license from the Office of National Security.
In her testimony, Musu Roseline Arun Conteh led in evidence by State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay described herself as the Administrative Officer at the Office of National Security (ONS) and that she is responsible for the registration and licensing of private security companies in the country. She recognized the accused and recalled the 4th and 5th July 2024 .
The witness explained that on Thursday, 4th July 2024, some people who said they were employees of the security agency of Pastor Jusu went to her office with a complaint against his person.
The accused, according to the ONS Administrative Officer, is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the security agency called, Southern Lion Security Company and that the complaint against the accused CEO was that he has not paid their salaries for three months.
The witness said she then asked them to produce evidences of their employment with the above named company and they produced a guarantor bearing the name of Southern Security Logistic Company situated at Leicester Road, back of Muslim Brotherhood Secondary School in Freetown.
According to the witness, upon receiving the employment letters on which she saw an Africell mobile number, 077810116, she called and it was the accused who answered the call. She said she enquired from him the terms for hiring securities from his company, telling him that she was in need of securities for two different locations at Adonkia and John Obey.
She furthered that she enquired about the address of his company which he gave, and they agreed to meet on 5th July 2024 to conclude the agreement.
The witness went on that the next day at around 10:30 am, the accused called her to remind her of their arrangements and upon that she informed the officers at the Situation Room to accompany her. She added she asked the accused that they meet at Model Junction on Circular Road.
She said at the junction, the accused was arrested and taken to her office, where she said she asked the accused person if he was aware of the ONS press releases relating to the registration of private security operations in the country, to which she said, the accused responded in the affirmative.
She added that she also asked the accused if he was conversant with the conditions for the setting up of a security company, to which she maintained, the accused responded with a reference to one of the press releases issued by the ONS that states that no one should operate a security company without a valid license from the Office of National Security.
The accused, the ONS officer further testified, told her that he started operating his security company on 8th August, 2023 and he has fourteen guards and three clients, and that he has his personnel attached to the Islamic College on Wilkinson Road, the Evangelical Church at Murray Town and the SV Electronic Shops, respectively.
The witness maintained that it was on this information that she gave instructions for the accused person to be conveyed to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters at Pademba Road in Freetown for investigation, and she made a statement to the police.
The witness was cross examined by Defense Lawyer, Chernor Kamara who also renewed his previous bail application on behalf of the accused person. However, Magistrate Bangura refused bail on the grounds of public policy and in consideration of the grievous nature of the offence charged. The matter was adjourned to 21st August, 2024 for further hearing.