By Abass Jalloh
Member of Parliament for the main opposition All People's Congress (APC) party representing Constituency 056 in Karene district, Mohamed Bangura, and the Chairperson of the party in Tonkolili district, Yabom Sesay, were yesterday refused bail following five count charges levied against them.
According to the particulars of offence, on Saturday 11th June 2022 at Mathora village, Kholifa Rowala chiefdom in Tonkolili district, Bangura assaulted Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP), Gabriel Tommy, while he was executing his duty.
Counts two and three stated that they used insulting words against Tommy in order for him to commit breach of peace, and of intimidating him, threatening to hit him with their vehicle.
Counts four and five claimed they behaved in a riotous manner and obstructed the AIG when he was executing his duty.
In his testimony at the Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, led by Lawyer Yusuf Isaac Sesay, Tommy, who doubles as the Regional Commander for the north-east region, told the court that he is responsible for overseeing officers within the region and ensuring law and order.
Tommy recalled on the stated date when he moved from Makeni to Magburaka in the morning hours based on a discussion he had with the second accused (Sesay) concerning an expected visit by Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.
He said on the 10th June 2022 he was informed that the APC party was having a rally and that he called the second accused and advised her to reschedule the rally to the following day.
Tommy said aware that the vice president was there, he went and instructed his men to mount a checkpoint at Mathora.
He said after instructing his security personnel that everyone must be searched, he tried to talk to the second accused, but she was adamant and angry and those following her started using invectives and threatened to dismantle the check point.
He said after he noticed the crowd building up he called Makeni for reinforcement, adding that part of those he saw among the crowd was the first accused Bangura.
Tommy said he was standing in the middle of the road at the checkpoint while they were demonstrating and chanting that there would be war and they would clear anyone who went their way.
According to Tommy, Bangura went closer to him and choked his neck in the presence of former APC Presidential Aspirant, Dr. Samura Kamara, and former APC Secretary-General, Osman Foday Yansaneh.
He said the crowd immediately uplifted the checkpoint, passed through and while he was standing in middle of the road those in vehicles, including both accused persons, reigned insults on him and left.
During cross-examination by Defense Counsel Lansana Dumbuya, Tommy said that he was not told that the APC were having a rally and that it was supposed to be informed by the Local Unit Commander (LUC).
He confirmed that the vice president was at Bumbuna on that day.
Tommy disagreed with Lawyer Dumbuya that the APC did tell him that they were going to Sambaia Bendugu and said he could not tell Ferengbeya is located in Constituency 056..
He further stated that he spoke to the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) and the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) about the security of the vice president.
Tommy said that he did not call the first accused when arrived at the checkpoint but that he approached him impolitely.
He confirmed that the incident occurred in the morning hours and that it is because they assaulted him everything went out of control.
Tommy confirmed that he prevented the APC supporters from going about their rally and that it was for the remarks by the second accused on the 10th June 2022 that made him to mount a checkpoint.
Magistrate Mark Ngegba adjourned the matter to Thursday 15th September 2022.
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