By Abass Jalloh
Isatu Bah who was allegedly struck with a light sandal or flip-flop on her left eye by Fatmata Jalloh at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Freetown, has told the court that she is yet to recover her sight since the incident.
“I cannot have my sight,” complainant Bah said while testifying at the Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown on Friday 19th August 2022.
It was reported that the accused's son earlier reported to the CID for money that was paid to the complainant for a piece of land which was never received or the money refunded.
The complainant, a housewife residing at Ogoo Farm in Freetown, told the court that she knew the accused and had no personal dispute with her, saying that she was at the CID to give evidence in a land matter between her sons, whom she only called Bah and Barrie and the accused.
She explained that on the 16th of June 2022 whilst at the CID headquarters the accused came from behind her back and hit her on the left eye with the sandal (slipper) and she screamed that her eye “has been blown off”.
She said immediately after the attack, she was led by a police doctor to the Connaught hospital eye clinic for medical examination. She said the doctor was not around and that the nurses advised that she report the next day which was a Friday.
Bah explained that she visited the doctor the next day and was examined and told that the lens of her left eye had been affected and needed surgery. Two operations were done, she said.
The complainant stated that they later went again to the police doctor who was ordered by the doctor at Connaught hospital to go along with her with the medical report. The medical report was presented in court.
At some point in the cross examination, the complainant was asked whether she saw some family members of the accused at CID, but she said due to her eye situation she could not recall exactly because many people were around.
The defense then put it to the complainant that she made allegations against the accused because they did not want to refund the money or give the land to the accused. At this juncture, the prosecution did not reexamine.
Magistrate Mark Ngegba adjourned the matter to the 29th of August 2022.
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