By Janet A. Sesay
Paramount Chief Koblo Queen II of Marampa Chiefdom in Port Loko district was yesterday cross-examined by Defence Counsel C. Pujeh Esq. before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Court No. 1 on Pademba Road in Freetown.
In the cross-examination, PC Koblo Queen II said on 29th April 2020, he summoned a meeting at his residence with the Chiefdom Speaker and the fourteenth accused, Hon. Osman Karankay Conteh, but the twenty-sixth accused, Alfed Kamara, who is one of the chiefs, was not invited in the meeting.
The Paramount Chief said the meeting was summoned to address chiefdom affairs though the twenty-sixth accused was not invited in the meeting. He furthered that the twenty-sixth accused later came to the meeting but did not ask any question about what happened but had the temerity to physically attack them and they had to flee for their lives.
PC Koblo Queen II continued that the twenty-sixth accused pelted stones at him and he resorted to making statement to the police with regards his unbecoming behaviour.
When asked by the defense counsel whether he was aware that the former Member of Parliament, Hon. Osman Karankay Conteh also made a report about the incident to the police, he responded in the negative.
The chief furthered that when the attackers besieged his residence, he spotted the twenty-sixth accused amongst the assailants that damaged his gate and set his compound ablaze.
The accused were arraigned on fourteen counts ranging from conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, arson, malicious damage to larceny.
The charge sheet indicated that the accused on diverse dates between 1st and 30th April, 2020 at Queen Street, Makeni Highway conspired together with other persons unknown to murder Alie Kabia and also caused grievous bodily harm to Alusine Bundy with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.
The accused also on the same day and place set fire on the Lunsar Police Division and also maliciously set ablaze the garage apartment of Paramount Chief Koblo Queen II, one Nissan Pathfinder vehicle, property of one Shekuba whilst in custody at the Lunsar Police Division.
The accused also on the same day and place maliciously damaged one Range Rover Sport Edition vehicle with registration number PCQ 002 valued at US$800 equivalent to Le8million, property of Paramount Chief Koblo Queen II of Marampa Chiefdom.
The accused included Mohammed Kanu, Alhaji Musa Bangura, Fonti Sankoh, Ishmael Mansaray, Bai Kamara, Yusuf Jalloh, Sadatu Bangura, Foray Kamara, Chief Alfred Kamara, Hon. Osman Karankay Conteh, Lamin Koroma, Ibrahim Saccoh, Lamin Fofanah, Albert Sesay, Mohammed Bah and sixteen others.
The accused were denied bail by Magistrate Hannah Bonnie and the matter comes up on 5th August, 2020.