By Mohamed Foday Conteh
Justice Musu Damba Kamara has granted bail to Amadu 'Kondoe' Koroma and 12 others who were allegedly involved in the 18th July 2020 Generator riot in Makeni after spending a year in detention.
The Prosecuting Counsel had led in 6 witnesses in the persons of ASP George Momoh, ASP Anthony Moriba Gaya, DPC 13585 Paul Lewis, DPC 9268 Collins J, DPC Komrabai Cole and D.SGT 1516 Conteh at the Lower Court.
The 13 accused persons, Amadu ‘Kondoe’ Koroma, Idrissa Turay, Thaimu Kamara, Ibrahim Conteh, Mohamed Idriss Koroma, Joseph Yusif Bangura, Ibrahim Sesay, Baimba Bangura, Mohamed Conteh, Saidu Kpanabom Kargbo, Joseph Kanu and Mohamed Kargbo were arraigned in court on a 6 count charge including conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to law, carrying offensive weapon contrary to section 16 (1) of No. 46 of the Public Order Act, disorderly behaviour contrary to section 7 of the Public Order Act, riotous conduct contrary to section 12 (a) of the same Act and throwing of missiles contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act of 1861.
Serry-Kamal had argued in court that bail should be irrefutable since the punishments of the said charges are not more than 5 years. She had said that the 13 accused persons had spent close to a year in incarceration. She had also pleaded with the judge that some of the charges are mere duplications. She also drew the attention of the judge that the said matter took 6 months at the Magistrate Court for preliminary investigations, adding that the State had treated the said matter with levity because since it was committed to the high court in February this year, the state has not made much effort for the trial to progress.
State Counsel, Yusuf Isaac Sesay, had argued for a refusal of bail for the accused. He had cited that the Magistrate at the lower court refused bail because of the seriousness of the matter. Sesay had relied on the affidavit in opposition to bail by Solomon Christian Kekurah. In paragraph 3 of the said affidavit he adduced that the accused will commit similar offences if bail is granted.
Justice Kamara granted bail to Amadu ‘Kondoe’ Koroma, the 1st accused in the sum of Le 30 million with one Sierra Leonean surety with an established business or trade. The judge also granted a Le 20 million bail to Idrissa Turay and the other 11 accused persons. The said bail is granted with the matter set to resume at the high court pending a notice to both counsels.
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