By Prince J Musa in Kenema
54 foreign nationals and nine Sierra Leoneans have been arraigned before Kenema Magistrate Court No.1 on multiple charges, with the non-citizens facing a charge of illegal entry into Sierra Leone.
According to the particulars of offence, the accused were arrested on the 22nd of July 2021 at No.16 school drive, IDA in Kenema following a tip off about very unusual and suspicious events happening at the said address.
The accused comprise 32 Guineans, 18 Malians, 3 Ivorians and 1 Burkinabe - and were arrested together with the Sierra Leoneans at a dwelling house.
According to the prosecution, the accused were caught singing songs that were foreign to the community people creating suspicion and which prompted them to alert the Police who immediately went to the scene and arrested the group. The suspects who also included 7 women were then detained for some days and later charged to court.
The accused charges range from unlawful assembling to, travelling without valid documents. The foreigners also face a charge of failing to register as non-citizens contrary to section 19 (2) (f) (1) and (expulsion) Act No 14 of 1965.
They all pleaded not guilty to all of the four charges. Magistrate Abdul Carew however granted a ten million Leone bail to a lactating mother while the other 62 accused persons were remanded in prison. The matter was prosecuted by ASP Daniel Konneh from the Legal and Justice Department of the Sierra Leone Police Kenema division. The accused men and women were represented by lawyer Maada Sheku Koroma.
The matter was adjoined to the 17th August 2021 while the accused’s remanded for the next adjoined date.
Copyright © Politico Online (16/08/21)
