By Francis H. Murray
Magistrate Hannah Bonnie last week admitted the spouse of the former defence minister Alfred Pallo Conteh to bail on a Le 200 million bond or two Sierra Leonean sureties resident in Freetown, with one owing property valued at not less than Le 100 million.
Earlier Magistrate Bonnie had ruled that the charges of conspiracy to commit a felony levied against Isata Saccoh, were not “duplicitous or uncertain” as argued by her lawyers. She said: ‘‘I am of the view that the charge as laid in count one, does not offend the rule against duplicity. Conspiracy is a common law offense and therefore it has been laid accordingly.’’
She said she had took into consideration the fact that accused persons must know the case alleged against them so that they could prepare a defense and that the court must know the charges alleged so that it could determine the admissibility of evidence and when the need required direct a jury.
Wara Serry Kamal, lawyer for the accused had argued last Wednesday that the charge in count one – conspiracy to commit a felony – was “uncertain” as it did not state a felony under law, specifically under which the accused had been charged.
Isata Saccoh is accused of attempting to facilitate the escape from prison of her husband Alfred Pallo Conteh in the recent attempted prison break and of having in her possession small arms and ammunition without a valid license.
The matter was adjourned to Friday 29th May 2020.
Copyright © 2020 Politico Online
