By Abass Jalloh
The controversial hip-hop artist, Alhaji Amadu Bah aka LAJ was refused bail again after he appeared in front of a magistrate for the second time yesterday on four counts bordering on robbery with violence and assault.
His arrest on 12 June on allegations of attacking, beating up and robbing two pump attendants at a petrol station caused a stir after it emerged that his cascading dreadlocks had been shaved off under police custody.
The Inspector General of Police, Ambrose Sovula says it was part of their standard operating procedure and that the artist had attempted to commit suicide using his dreadlocks to strangle himself.
His lawyer, Madieu Sesay said he met his client after the haircut and that he had never told him that, essentially denying the police chief’s account.
LAJ first appeared in court late on Monday amid a heavy police presence. He was accused of attacking pump attendants at the Leonco fuel station, Main Motor Road at Congo Cross in Freetown “with the intent” to steal and that he later robbed Francess Wilson of Le 2,090,000 and used personal violence against her.
He was denied bail and sent to the maximum security prison at Pademba Road. He did not put in a plea because the magistrate court is essentially doing preliminary investigations to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to refer the matter to the high court.
Magistrate Kekura rejected the bail application of the defense lawyers for the second time yesterday 22nd of June on the grounds that the defence lawyers could not produce the medical report of the accused; for which the request was made.
The Magistrate stated that on the first day of appearance in court on Monday 20th June 2022, he ordered the Lawyers and authorities to enquire or examine the health condition of the accused at the Sierra Leone Correctional Center, Pademba Road, adding that they failed to present the evidence of the medical report.
During the second appearance yesterday, Prosecuting Witness (PW1), Ishmael Kamara, gave his testimony and was cross- examined in relation to what had transpired at the scene of the alleged incident involving him together with his friends namely Musa Mansaray, Francess Wilson, Christiana Koroma and LAJ as against the pump attendants at the Leonco gas station.
In his testimony, the PW1, Ishmael Kamara alleged that during the incident a bag containing the sum of four million, two hundred thousand Leones (Le 4,200,000) was taken by LAJ.
During cross-examination, Lawyer Madieu Sesay questioned the witness if the argument that transpired was between the other people and not LAJ. The witness acknowledged that to be true.
The Lawyer also questioned the witness as to whether the law states that the customer is always right, and the witness responded in the affirmative.
The defence lawyers filed an application for bail for the accused, LAJ, considering his present health condition.
The defense lawyers pleaded that his client be granted bail contrary to Section 23(4) Act No. 6 of the Sierra Leone Constitution, stating that section 7(B) of the Bail Regulation of 2018 justifies for the health condition for an accused person.
The defence further noted that section 79 of Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution provides for the appearance of the accused to admit him to bail to check his medical condition, adding that since the 12th of June, “he needs thorough medical attendance”.
In response to the bail application, the State Prosecutor, Y. I. Sesay, who was leading PW1 in his testimony, said they relied on the “entirety of the Affidavit”.
The Magistrate also noted that the refusal of the bail was because the defence lawyers were more concerned about what the law provides rather than allowing him to use the law and his discretion to grant bail.
The matter was adjourned to Monday 28th June 2022
Meanwhile 12 others arrested alongside LAJ or during his detention, appeared in court for the third time yesterday after their initial showing on Monday.
Police Detective from the Land and Environmental Crime Department, Edward Issa, a prosecuting witness from the Sierra Leone Police, testified at the Pademba Road Court No. 2 against three of the number on the 21st June.
He said the three accused persons – Ibrahim Bangura (8th), Sulaiman Shaw (9th) and Ibrahim Koroma (11th) – were charged with Riotous Conduct and Disorderly Behaviour.
Issa said the three were said to have been arrested at the front view of the OSD Headquarters with plastic bottles which they allegedly used as projectiles to pelt the building in protest over the musician’s detention.
The witness testified that he and his colleagues were assigned to take separate statements from the three whom he said all denied any wrongdoing.
During cross-examination, the defence lawyer, A. Bah asked the witness concerning the 8th accused whether or not he was in a vehicle when he was arrested. The detective confirmed the nature of the said arrest.
Lawyer Bah further questioned the detective as to whether or not the vehicle was examined in the process of their investigations. The witness answered in the affirmative.
Concerning the 9th accused, Lawyer Bah asked whether the accused told the investigators about him being a mechanic, which the detective confirmed.
The detective also confirmed that the 11th accused had stated that he’s a media person and a Disc Jockey, adding that he was there to “investigate the whereabouts of LAJ”. He also confirmed that he was arrested outside the OSD Headquarters.
When asked about the sum of Le 545,000 and mobile phones said to have been with the 11th accused at the time of his arrest, the detective said he could not confirm that.
The detective said the arresting officers made inquiries, but that they did not provide statements.
Lawyer Bah asked for bail for his clients which was not granted before the court was informed that the matter to would be adjourned to Wednesday 22 June.
The matter resumed yesterday Wednesday but all 12 accused persons were refused bail again.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (22/06/22)
