By Mohamed Ayoub Conteh
Mabinty Bangura, wife of one Amadu Bangura who alleges to have been assaulted by his landlord Abubakarr Kamara, has testified before Magistrate Mark Ngegba in Freetown in the ongoing preliminary investigations into a three-count charge of assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and intent to kill.
Led in evidence by Police prosecutor IG Edward Sesay on Monday 14th December 2020, the witness told the court that she and her husband were tenants to the accused at a house situated at Congo Cross.
She said that according to a tenancy agreement she and her husband entered into with the accused, they were supposed to pay Le25 million yearly for a two room and a parlour apartment.
The agreement, she continued, included facilities such as certain home conveniences including a self-contained toilet and a bathroom with water facility. She continued that upon arrival at the new apartment, they realized a breach in the agreement as the toilet was no longer in good condition and that the house also lacked water facility, which they communicated to the landlord and urged him to cut down the cost of the rent in light of the conditions.
Mrs Bangura said an agreement was later reached among them for a yearly Le19 million payment.
‘‘Surprisingly, the landlord met us in our apartment and told us that we had to pay the Le25 million in order to get the self-contained bathroom and a toilet back in use and we agreed to pay on the grounds that we have our bathroom and toilet in good use. A month after, no development was made and I reported the issue to my husband,’’ she explained.
Mrs Bangura went on to note that on 2nd April, 2020, her husband went to the house of the accused to inform him of the inconveniences but had met him praying. She continued that after he had finished praying, her husband and the accused began to discuss about the issue which ended up in a bitter confrontation and the accused told her husband not shout at him.
‘‘My husband told him that this was not the agreement and they started fighting. He collected a stick and hit my husband on his face and he also threatened to kill him. He hired some boys to beat my husband and he was wounded and his face was in a pool of blood. My husband was later taken to the Connaught Hospital and I later reported the matter to the Congo Cross Police post,’’ she added.
The accused was represented by lawyer Bolima Kargbo.
The matter was adjourned to the 8th of January, 2021, for continuation of investigations.
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