By Musa Paul Feika
Magistrate Alhaji Sullaiman Koroma of Ross Road court in Freetown will rule on cost application made by Counsel Sydney Campbell.
20th March, this year has been set aside for the ruling.
Counsel Campbell is representing Khalilu Rahman Sewanneh, complainant from whom one mobile phone valued Le4M was allegedly obtained by the accused, Alhassan Jalloh under false pretence.
Counsel applied that the sum of Le5M be paid by the accused to his client arguing that the former had misled the court.
The accused inter alia pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him, but later, told the court he had brought the money to pay complainant.
Complainant’s counsel was dissatisfied with the accused’s conduct saying: “The accused has totally misled the court by pleading guilty indirectly.”
“If the accused did not plead guilty, why did he bring the money to pay complainant,” Counsel inquired.
The accused, counsel further argued, knew that he had to pay complainant, but failed to do so until he was brought to court.
Owing to the perceived misleading, Counsel Campbell also submitted that the accused be awarded “custodial sentence” in addition to the cost application.
“Complainant paid me to represent him,” Counsel Campbell said.
In response, Magistrate Koroma assured Counsel Campbell that the cost application would be ruled on next sitting.
However, the accused was granted bail in the sum of Le5M with two sureties in like sum.
Police charge sheet indicates that the accused, Alhassan Jalloh, sometimes in November last year, in the Freetown judicial district, in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, obtained one mobile phone valued Le4M from complainant under false pretence that he would buy same.