By Musa Paul Feika
Abdul Sonneh yesterday made his first appearance before Magistrate Alhaji Suliaman Koroma of Ross Road Magistrate Court No. 1 for the offences of robbery with aggravation and other related offences, which are all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The robbery took place on 28th July 2020 this year at Grafton in the east of Freetown.
The police prosecution witness, Kugbai Tucker, told the court that he recognized the accused and he could recall 28th July 2020. He said, on that day, he was at home sleeping when he heard her daughter, Theresa Tucker, seriously screaming “Dad, Dad.”
Mr. Tucker said he immediately woke up and went downstairs where his daughter was shouting. He said, upon his arrival, he saw five men surrounding Theresa in the palour and, according to him, he asked them what the matter was? He said he also pleaded with them and asked for them to talk like men.
When he said this, one of the men suddenly chopped off his left arm and sliced his stomach with a machete.
“This resulted into a fight between they and me,” he told the court.
The witness added that, during the fight, he was able to escape with his daughter upstairs because he was afraid for his life and daughter.
The witness detailed the court that, when he went downstairs, he discovered that certain items, which include one amplifier set, valued at one million five hundred thousand and mobile phones, worth millions of Leones, had been carted away by the accused. He said his neighbors only came after the men had already run away.
But he said the first accused was apprehended by Grafton youths, who was still holding on to the one amplifier set, within the vicinity, and was taken to the Kissy Police Division in Freetown.
The witness said he was issued with a police medical request form for treatment at the Rokupa Government Hospital, Wellington in Freetown. He said he also made a statement at the police station after he returned with the endorsed medical paper. He added that he was later transferred at 34 Military Hospital Wilberforce in Freetown, for further medical attention due to the seriousness of his wounds.
The police charge sheet adduces that Abdul Sonneh, on Sunday 28th July 2020, at Grafton in the east of Freetown, robbed Kugbai Tucker certain properties worth million of leones.
The accused was remanded at the Male Correctional Centre, Pademba in Freetown and the matter was adjourned to 12th August, 2020.