By Francis H. Murray
Thirteen people accused of participating in last month’s violent unrest in Makeni town in the Bombali District, resulting in the death of five people have been remanded into the custody of the Correctional Services after their first appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba in Freetown on Monday.
The accused persons face seven counts including conspiracy to commit a felony, carrying offensive weapon without lawful authority or disorderly behavior, riotous conduct, throwing missiles and malicious damage.
The prosecution alleges that the thirteen accused persons including: Amadu Koroma alias Kondoe, Idrissa Koroma, Joseph Yusif Bangura, Ibrahim Sesay, Baimba Bangura, Mohamed Conteh, Saidu Kpanabom Kargbo, Joseph Kanu and Mohamed Kargbo, on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th July 2020, conspired together with other persons unknown to commit an offense.
The prosecution also alleges that the accused persons on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th July 2020 were found maliciously damaging properties of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) Regional Office in Makeni worth thirty nine million Leones.
The 1st accused Amadu Koroma alias Kondoe is also accused of having singlehandedly maliciously damaged Electricity Generation and Transmission Company (EGTC) property worth ten million Leones. All accused persons pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Lead lawyer for the accused persons Wara Serry Kamal argued that the prosecution had no case against the accused and that the court in Freetown does not have jurisdiction to try the accused persons. She added that the prosecution had not exhibited any court order to try the matter in Freetown.
Lawyer Y.I Sesay for the state said he will reply to the defense on the next adjourned date as he had only just come into the matter.
In her application for bail on behalf of all the accused persons, lawyer Serry-Kamal said that her clients have nowhere to go if bail is granted and that they have reliable sureties.
Magistrate Ngegba refused bail for all accused persons and further instructed Correctional Service authorities to give special attention to all sick accused persons.
Matter was adjourned to the 21 August 2020.
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