By Saio Marrah
A 47-Year-old Farmer, Alpha Sheriff of No.1 Sheriff Drive, Kamabai town in Bombali District, has appeared before a magistrate court in Freetown for unlawful possession of a grey and black Taurus Armas Revolver Pistol in Kebbie town Bo District.
The accused is also charged with unlawful concealment of the same gun on 7th June this year.
Sheriff, first accused, was among nine men that appeared before Magistrate Mark Ngegba at the Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown on Tuesday 25 July 2023, facing various charges.
Prosecution Witness one (PW1), Police Sub- Inspector Mohamed Wai, told the court that he was on duty at Bo Police Station when the Assistant Inspector- General of Police, Brima Kanneh, called saying that there was a vehicle which had bulldozed through the checkpoint.
Lead in by Lawyer Johan M. S. Bull, the PW1 noted that when they arrived at the checkpoint, he searched the first accused, while other police officers searched the other eight accused.
According to the PW1, he found a pistol, knife and pepper spray on the first accused, while other security regalia were found in possession of the rest.
He further told the court about how they arrested and took the accused to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Bo Police Division and had them later transferred to the (CID) in Freetown.
The 33 year serving personnel also tendered the exhibits to the court.
The other eight accused include 43 year -old Alhassan Kamara of No.5 Power Street in Kamabai, Alhaji Hassan (50) of 9 Pedro Drive at Kamayama, Lumley in Freetown, and Amadu Conteh of 1 Mission Road in Kambia Town charged with having control of small arms without license, as second, third and fourth accused respectively.
A businessman, Alhaji Saidu Fofana (43) of 18 Kumba Lane Goderich, Security Personnel-Sorie Sillah of 7 Sheriff Drive off Road Lumley and 45 year- old Abdul Karim Mans of 19 Off Spur Road in Wilberforce, Freetown, are the fifth, sixth and seventh accused respectively.
Businessman, Abdul Aziz Kargbo (42) from Kissy Freetown, and driver, Aruna Sorsor Kamara (38) from Kamabai town in Bombali District are the eighth and ninth accused in the criminal preliminary investigation.
During cross -examination by Lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, the PW1 denied torturing any of the accused while in custody or of Police calling up civilians to beat them up.
The PW1 also denied to have filmed the accused and shared the recording on social media. The case resumes 2nd August 2023.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (26/07/23)
