By Musa Paul Feika
Detective Police Constable 14486, Samuel Alieu, attached to the Anti -Robbery Unit at the Ross Road Police Division, in Freetown, has testified before Magistrate Alhaji Suliaman Koroma, of the Ross Road Magistrate Court No.1, in the ongoing robbery matter involving one Alhaji Mansaray, who was charged with the offences of robbery with violence and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Mr. Alieu continued his testimony noting that he recognized the accused as well as the complainant, and could recall the day in question. He said he was on duty, at the Anti-Robbery Unit at the Regional Ross Road Police Division in Freetown, when a case and enquiry file from P.W.D. Police Post at Ferry Junction, in Freetown, was transferred to the aforementioned Unit for investigation.
The witness added that the matter was assigned to him for further investigation and, according to him, the case and enquiry file was containing an endorsed medical paper bearing the name of the accused, statements of the complainant and her witnesses and two suspects were brought to the Division.
The voluntary caution statement of the accused and the complainant`s statement were produced and tendered in court to form part of the court`s records.
Mr. Alieu recounted that he obtained an additional caution statement from the accused, adding that at the end of the statement the accused admitted it to be true and correct, which was witnessed by Detective Inspector Conteh A.B.
On the 27th August, 2020, the witness concluded his testimony, informing that he charged the accused with the offences of robbery with violence and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which are all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The defence counsel, Randy S. Bangura, who was defending the accused, in cross examination, asked the witness whether he was previewed as to how the accused was apprehended. The witness answered yes.
Mr. Bangura asked the witness if the complainant had told him that the robbery took place in a crowded place. In reply, the witness said no.
According to the police charge sheet, Alhaji Mansaray, on 24th August, 2020 at Wellington in Freetown, robbed and assaulted the complainant, in a manner thereby causing her grievous bodily harm.
The accused was refused bail and sent on remand at the Male Correctional Centre, Pademba Road in Freetown and the matter was adjourned to 7th October, 2020.