By Janet A Sesay
The matter between Socfin Agricultural Company and the people of Pujehun District has yesterday came up for hearing before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Pademba road court No.1.
Some of the accused persons include Honorable Shiaka Sama of constituency 104 Pujehun District, Momoh Koroma, Momoh Ensah, Foday Maiwo, Alieu Aruna, Vandi Lamin, Yusuf Lusieni, Mannah Tucker, Ibrahim Tucker and ten others.
Alhaji Abubakarr Sidikie who testified on Thursday as a witness for the state told the court that he recognized the accused persons in the dock and could also recalled the 21st January, 2019.
He continued that on the said day in question at around 5p.m, he was relaxing at home precisely in his verandah when he saw the accused persons coming towards his house.
The witness recounted that he ran inside his house and closed both his doors and windows to protect himself.
The accused persons, according to him pelted stones on the roof of his house, damaged his doors and windows and forcefully entered his house and snatch him away to the poro bush at Sagama and threw him on the floor.
He added that he was mercilessly beaten, stripped naked and forcefully initiated into the poro society.The witness continued that he slept in the bush that night naked until the following morning when he saw a police vehicle entering into the bush.
He continued that the accused persons had escaped when the Police came into the bush and that he also took the opportunity and escape to his house.
The witness further recounted that he went to the town chief at Monogor and reported the matter and was taken to the Samalen police station where he made a report and later made statement to the police.
Musa Koroma, Admin officer attached to the security wing of the Socffin Agricultural Company also in her testimony noted that he recognized all the accused persons in the matter and could also recall the day in question.
He told the court that he was on duty at the company when he got information that the palm kernels at Sagama bush have been vandalized and stolen by the accused persons.
The witness further noted that, he left for the area and that upon his arrival he met the harvested palm kernels on the ground.The accused persons according to him were also present at the scene but had prevented him from taking the fruits even though they belongs to the company
Musa continued that whiles exchanging words with the accused persons, he saw a police vehicle approaching their direction and this led according to him led to the escape of the accused persons.The Police Officers the witness disclosed took the palm kernels from the bush as exhibits and left for the Police station.
The witness also told the court that he was later attacked while in the company of the Police in their vehicle and forced to come down and joined them to the society bush since according to them he is a member.
He said the accused persons forcefully open the vehicle of the police and forced him to come down but that the police officers sprayed tear gas which scared the accused persons away.
The accused persons he noted proceeded to the Socffin farms and started destroying the plantations of the company.
He told the court that another set of police officers were dispatched to the company leading to the arrest of the accused persons.
The accused persons were arraigned before Magistrate Bonnie on twenty-four counts ranging from conspiracy, robbery with aggravation, store breaking and larceny, malicious damage, kidnapping and other related offences.
The charge sheet indicated that the accused persons on Monday, 21st January, 2019, at Socfin Agricultural Company in Pujehun District, Southern region, conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit robbery with aggravation.
The charge sheet also indicated that the accused persons on the same day at the same place conspired together with other persons unknown to kidnap Alhaji Abu-bakarr Sidikie.
The accused persons on the same day at the same place were also alleged with intent to have stolen at the premises of Socfin Agricultural Company eighty-six (86) harvesting chisels valued five million, seven hundred and sixty-eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty Leones (Le 5,768,880) properties belonging to the Company.
Both witnesses were cross examined by defense counsel Emmanuel Saffa Abdulia.
The accused persons are on bail and the matter comes up on the 11th March 2020.