By Musa Paul Feika
One Alhaji Mansaray is standing trial at the Ross Road Magistrate Court No. 1, which is presided over by Magistrate Alhaji Suliaman Koroma, for the offence of robbery with violence, an offence which is contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The police prosecution witness, Abu Turay, in his testimony, told the court that he recognized the accused as well as the complainant and could recall 20th August, this year. He added that, on that fateful day, he was at the Kissy Brooks Junction in Freetown, when he heard the complainant screaming over her mobile phone.
Abu Turay detailed the court that he rushed to the scene of crime at the Kissy Brooks Market. He added that, upon arrival, the complainant informed him that the accused had grabbed her mobile phone from her and ran into the Kissy Brooks Market.
Mr. Turay further informed the court that himself and the complainant went in search of the accused within the Kissy Brooks Market, but the accused was nowhere to be found.
After four days, the witness narrated that he received a telephone call from one Mr. Moriba, who informed that he had seen the accused within the Kissy Brooks community.
The witness said that, upon receiving the information, he immediately left for Kissy Brooks Market and got the accused arrested. He said the accused was taken to the Kissy Police Division, in Freetown and he made a statement to the police in respect of the matter.
According to the police charge sheet, Alhaji Mansaray, on the 20th August, 2020, at the Kissy Brooks Market, in Freetown, robbed the complainant one Techno mobile phone worth a million Leones, which property belongs to the complainant.
During cross examination, by the accused, (since he was not legally represented) he asked the witness whether he was at the scene of crime when the alleged incident occurred. The witness answered no.
The accused further put it to the witness that all what he had just narrated, to the bench, was exactly what the complainant told him. In reply, the witness said no.
The accused was denied bail and sent on remand at the Male Correctional Centre, Pademba Road in Freetown. The matter will come up again on the 1st December, 2020.
