By Hassanatu I. Conteh
Eleven people have been remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown after appearing before Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 on allegations of riotous conduct, throwing missiles and disorderly behaviour at Kroo Town Road.
The accused persons are Foday Kargbo, Daniel Morray, Alusine Bah, Ibrahim Bangura, Ibrahim Mansaray, Mohamed Sesay, Musa Kamara, Byron Browne, Mohamed Sesay, Patrick Swarray and Bannister Samba.
They are facing four counts: carrying an offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, contrary to Section 16(1) of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965; throwing missiles, contrary to Section 6 of the same Act; riotous conduct, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965, as repealed and replaced by Act No. 15 of 1973; and disorderly behaviour, contrary to Section 12 of the Act, as amended by Section 15 of Act No. 2 of 1973.
According to the particulars of the offences, on Sunday, 13 September 2026, at Kroo Town Road and its surrounding areas in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused persons allegedly carried offensive weapons in a public place.
Count Two alleges that on the same date and at the same location, the accused persons allegedly threw missiles at combined operational police personnel.
Count Three further alleges that the accused persons behaved in a riotous manner.
Count Four alleges that on the same date and at the same place, the accused persons behaved in a disorderly manner.
When the charges were read and explained to them, all eleven accused persons pleaded not guilty.
Magistrate Jah delivered his ruling said the tenth defendant counsel I.F Sawaneh Esq submitted that the tenth defendant is below the age of criminal responsibility and he is thirteen years old and therefore urged the court the court to discharged him and the prosecutor reply thereto that there is nothing to prove before the court
He therefore ruled that having carefully read both submission by the defence by the defense counsel and the prosecution hereby state that there is nothing before the court to support the defense counsel submission he therefore dismissed the defense counsel submission and preceded with the matter to determine it merits
Deputy superintendent of police Dellia wellington Esq lead DPC 15051 Mohamed Konneh, a police officer attached to the Central Police Station, has testified against three defendants accused of engaging in disorderly conduct and throwing missiles during an alleged protest in the Kroo Town area of Freetown.
Konneh, who identified himself as attached to the Central Police Station, told the court that he recognized all three defendants in the dock.
He recalled that on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at about 16:00 hours, a joint team of police officers from the Central Police Station, headed by ASP Jose K. Williams, responded to an alleged protest misconduct around Kroo Town.
According to the witness, the defendants were among a group of people who were behaving in a disorderly manner. He said some of the people had gathered sticks, stones and bottles and started pelting the police officers with them.
The witness told the court that the first defendant, Foday Kargbo, was arrested with one flat, while the second defendant, Daniel Morrah, was arrested with one locally made cutlass.
He further testified that the third defendant, Alusine Bah, was arrested with an empty stout bottle.
Konneh said the defendants were cautioned and questioned, after which they made voluntary statements in connection with various alleged offences, including carrying offensive weapons, disorderly behaviour and throwing missiles.
He explained that the statements were made by the defendants in Krio and recorded in English. According to him, the statements were later read and separately explained to each defendant, after which they confirmed them to be true and correct by affixing their right thumbprints.
The witness said the statements were witnessed by himself and ACP 41 Konneh.
He told the court that the first defendant’s statement was recorded by D1804 Kombeh H.A.S., while the statement of the second defendant, Daniel Morrah, was recorded by DPC Matteh F.
He further testified that DPC 17735 Dumbuya A.A. witnessed the statements.
All the statements made by the defendants were produced and tendered in court as exhibits and formed part of the evidence before the court.
The witness also told the court that the exhibits allegedly recovered from the first, second and third defendants remained in police custody.
He said that on September 15, 2026, the defendants were interviewed and subsequently charged separately with different offences.
During cross-examination, defence counsel for all the defendants asked the witness whether there was any video or photograph showing the defendants at the alleged scene of the crime. The witness answered no.
Defence counsel then put it to the witness that the defendants were arrested for different reasons without the police knowing whether they were part of the alleged offence. The witness again answered no.
Counsel further put it to the witness that the third defendant, Alusine Bah, is a blacksmith and that the fourth defendant is an apprentice in his shop.
During further questioning by defence counsel for the third defendant, the witness was asked whether he visited the alleged scene of the incident.
He answered yes and told the court that he saw broken bottles and sticks at the scene.
Following the proceedings, all the defendants were remanded and sent to the Male Correctional Centre.
The matter was adjourned to October 12, 2026.