By Musa Paul Feika
Detective Sergeant Edward Fornah, attached to the Operations Department at the Aberdeen Police Station in Freetown, told the court that he and a team of police officers from the aforementioned police station arrested Alicious Deen Tawarally, alias Arata Paopa, in possession of a machete and knife in the Crab Town community of Aberdeen on 9th February 2022. Sergeant Fornah made the disclosure yesterday in his testimony before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown.
In continuation of his testimony, Mr Fornah told the court that he recognised both accused and recalled that on 9th February 2022 he was on duty at the aforesaid police station when he received a distress call from his boss, whose name was not mentioned, informing him that some youths were in possession of weapons in Crab Town. He said upon the receipt of the information, he and a team of police officers from the said police station instantly left for the crime scene. Upon their arrival, he said they saw the accused moving in their direction.
PW 1 said the accused was arrested in possession of a machete and knife, which were handed over to the exhibit clerk at the said police station. Following his arrest, the witness said the accused started throwing missiles at them. The witness said the accused was apprehended and conveyed to the Aberdeen Police Station, where he broke a bottle and vowed to stab anyone who tried to stop him.
‘He attempted to escape. During the process he stabbed one of my colleagues, and a statement was later obtained from me,’ Sergeant Fornah told the bench.
The accused appeared before the court on three counts of carrying offensive weapons, disorderly behaviour and throwing missiles, all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The police allege that Alicious Deen Tawarally on 9th February 2022 at Crab Town, Aberdeen in Freetown, was found in possession of offensive weapons, to wit, a machete and a knife.
According to the charge sheet, the accused on the same date and place in Freetown was found throwing missiles at the Aberdeen Police Station and at the same time behaving in a disorderly manner.
During cross examination by the accused, he suggested to the witness that he was not at the crime scene when he was arrested, which he answered in the negative.
Arata Paopa asked the witness if he had a photographic evidence to show to the bench that he was apprehended with offensive weapons. At that stage, defence counsel A. Bangura, who arrived late, announced his representation on behalf of the accused.
Lawyer Bangura then sought for a short stand-down for him to conduct the cross examination, but his application was denied. Consequently, Magistrate Ngegba adjourned the matter to 24th February 2022 for further cross examination.
The second case file where he was jointly charged with his accomplice, Williams Mathew Johnson, was mentioned by the court clerk. Magistrate Ngegba admitted both accused to fifty million leones (Le50, 000,000) bail with a surety who should reside in Freetown and is employed; bail should also be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.
The accused appeared before the court on a count of conspiracy and two counts of robbery.
The police say Alicious Deen Tawarally and Williams Mathew Johnson on Friday 31st December 2021 at Beach Road, Lumley in Freetown, robbed Mohamed Barrie of his Blu mobile phone valued at three million, five hundred thousand leones (Le3,500,000). The matter will resume on 8th March 2022.