By Janet A. Sesay
One of the Operational Support Division (OSD) officers, Detective Police Constable 2557 Edward Komrabai Cole, attached to the Rogbaneh Police Station, Makeni, on Friday 30th October 2020 testified before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No 2 in the Makeni riot, which led to the death of some youths.
The fifth prosecution witness, Edward, said he recognised the 1st accused (Amadu Koroma alias Kondo) and recalled the day of the alleged incident. He said, on that fateful day, he was on duty at the said station around 7:45pm, when he received some intelligence, from his boss, that there was a riot at the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) compound, adding that he was asked to form a team of personnel, which he did.
He told the court that, upon arrival at the scene, a security person from Group 4 Security Company told him that they have arrested the 1st accused, Amadu Koroma alias Kondo, who was later handed over to him together with a stick and he later took him to the Rogbaneh Police Station in Makeni.
The witness was cross examined by Lawyer Tejan Conteh.
The thirteen Makeni rioters including, Amadu Kamara, alias Kondo, Idrissa Koroma, Thamiu Kamara and ten others were charged with seven counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, carrying offensive weapons and disorderly behaviour, among other offences.
The state alleges that the accused, between Friday 17th and Saturday 18th July, 2020, within the Makeni City, Bombali District, conspired with other persons unknown to commit a felony, to wit carrying offensive weapons.
The state also alleges that the accused injured innocent people and maliciously damaged property worth thirty nine million, seven hundred thousand Leones, belonging to the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Regional Office at No.7 Kamal Street.
He also alleges that the first accused maliciously damaged property belonging to the Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) at Nicole Street. Meanwhile, Magistrate Ngegba remanded the accused at the Male Correctional Center and adjourned the matter to Friday 6th November, 2020.