By Janet Sesay
Honorable Shaka Sama of Constituency 104 in Pujehun district and thirteen others have made their second appearance before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Court No. 1.
The accused have been handed down fresh charges of kidnapping and making false publication against President Julius Maada Bio in Pujehun district. The old file, for which they were standing trial, has been discharged by the magistrate.
In the new file, they are arraigned on twenty-four counts; ranging from conspiracy to commit a crime, which is contrary to law, robbery with aggravation, store breaking and larceny, wounding, assault on police, kidnapping, publication of false news, inciting and riotous conduct, taking part in unlawful procession, disorderly behavior, attempted kidnapping and malicious damage.
The charged sheet indicates that the accused, on the Monday 21st January 2019 at Block 6 Surfing Agriculture Oil Farm, Sahr Malen chiefdom Pujehun District, Southern Province, Sierra Leone, conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a felony, to wit robbery with aggravation.
The charged sheet also stated that the accused, on the same day, conspired together to kidnap Abu-Bakarr Sidikie Sesay against his will and they were found unlawfully taking part in a street procession.
On the same day, the accused were also alleged of being armed with machetes and robbed one Abdulraham one Itel mobile phone, which is valued at one million, two hundred thousand leones. They also robbed Musa Amara one Tecno mobile phone and Abdulai Moiwa, the sum of four hundred and fifty thousand leones (Le 450,000) and Mohammed Mustapha one Itel three sim mobile phone.
The court details further states that the accused also, on Saturday 12th January, 2019, broke and entered into the Agriculture company and stole sixty-five head pans, four sets of furniture chairs, seven wheelbarrows, twenty-three imported spades and other items valued at seventy-one billion, eight hundred and forty-three million, seven hundred thousand leones (71,843,700,000).
Details continue that one of the accused, Hon Shaka Sama, sometimes in November, 2018, did a publication of false news against President Julius Maada Bio. He also incited the other accused to behave in a riotous manner.
He was also accused of attempting to kidnap Esther Coker and Mariama Conteh against their will. The accused also assaulted Police Constables 5406 Augustine Foday and 7468 Morie Sargen while executing their lawful duties.
After the charges were read to the accused, they pleaded not guilty to the offence.
Detective Assistant Superintendent of Police, Joan Bull, told the Magistrate that they will not be offering evidence against the accused on the first file and so they were discharged. She sought for an adjournment on the second file, noting that her witnesses are not present in court.
Lead Defense Counsel, Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, made bail application on behalf of all the accused, noting that they have been in detention for a while and that the accused are innocent until found guilty.
He said one of the accused is an Honourable Member of Parliament resident in Freetown and the other accused are farmers, who are also resident in Sierra Leone.
The defense counsel pleaded with the Magistrate to grant them bail, assuring the court that they will not jump bail and that they have reliable sureties to stand on their behalf.
The prosecutor did not object to bail.
The accused were granted fifty million leones (Le 50,000,000) bail each and one surety in like sum. Each surety should be gainfully employed and resident in Freetown. The surety should also produce a valid national identification card or voter ID card and bail should be approved by the Deputy Master and Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to the 4th March 2019.