By Janet A. Sesay
Lawyer Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai, one of the defense counsels for Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, has, on Thursday 15 October 2020, informed Justice Samuel Taylor, presiding judge over the alleged sexual trial, that he was denied access to his client at the Correctional Facility by prison officers.
He further told the court that he was asked by the Facility to get clearance from the Internal Affairs Ministry before he could see his client. He also informed the court that his client is suffering from prostrate cancer and therefore needed urgent medical attention.
Lawyer Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai added that, though an order was made by the court for his client to get medical attention, nothing has been done by the state, adding that even the medicines, prescribed by the doctors for his client, have not yet been received by the 1st accused.
He therefore applied, to the court, for urgent medical attention for his client, adding also getting access to his family and legal counsels.
Lawyer J.M. Jengo, defense counsel for the 2nd accused, Marion Arouni, also intimated the court that the 2nd accused’s husband, who has been taking care of the children, is seriously ill and therefore pleaded with the court to grant bail to the accused on the next adjourned date so that she could take care of the kids. He said the accused is the primary caregiver of her three children, and if bail is not granted her it would be dangerous for the kids.
Justice Taylor, having listened to their application, made an order to the Director of prison to always allow the lawyers access to their clients. He also made an order for the medical practitioner, who examined the 1st accused, Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray, to make available, to the court, the medical report on the next adjourned date.
Prior to this order, the state prosecutor, Umu Sumaray, applied for an additional witness to testify, pursuant to section 118 of the CPA Act No 32 of 1965.
The 10th prosecution witness, Sergeant 11322 Mohamed Marwan Conteh, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department, Tankoro Police Station, as scene of crime officer, recalled 18th July 2020. He said, on that day, whiles on duty, the line manager, Inspector Cascious, requested him to join the investigating team to visit the scene of crime at Diamond Lodge Hotel together with the victim. He added that, upon their arrival at the scene, the victim described the hotel rooms to them.
According to him, all that the victim described to them was what they saw in the hotel rooms. Sergeant Conteh added that he took photos, of the rooms identified to them by the victim, with his Tecno Cannon 12 pro mobile phone.
In further evidence, the witness said that, on the 25 July 2020, he was again requested by ASP Thomas Robin Mansaray to visit Diamond Lodge Hotel for the second time, which he did. In that second visit he also took photos of the rooms with his phone.
“We proceeded again to another crime scene at John Keilie Street in Kono. Here the victim said it was one of the places Kamarainba allegedly penetrated her,” he told the court. He said he took photographs of the building again because he had no access to enter the house.
The witness’ mobile phone, together with the photos, was tendered in court, as exhibits respectively, to form part of the prosecution case. The prosecutor, Umu Sumaray, intimated the court that, on the next adjourned date, she will lead her last witness.
The matter was adjourned to 21st October 2020, whiles the accused were both remanded in prison.
The accused, Mohamed Kamarainba Mansaray and Marion Arouni, are arraigned before Justice Samuel Taylor on 8 counts charges, ranging from conspiracy and sexual penetration, which are contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the police charge sheet, it was alleged that the 1st accused, sometimes in March and April 2020 at the Diamond Lodge Hotel, Kono, allegedly sexually penetrated a 15 year old girl.