By Francis H. Murray
Defense lawyers in the treason trial of Former Defense Minister Alfred Paolo Conteh and two others at the high court in Freetown have objected to the testimony of the head of the National Small Arms Commission Brigadier General, retired, Tamba Rodnic Allieu arguing that he was “interfered” with prior to his testimony.
Lawyer Roland Wright, for the second accused Sahr Anthony Sinnah argued that the CID officer who obtained statements from the witness had testified in the same matter and suggested that against that background the testimony of General Allieu had been doctored.
Lawyer Wright further argued that such a practice showed ‘‘serious irregularities’’ on the side of the prosecution and called on the Judge to expunge the evidence of the witness from the court records.
Justice Momoh Jah Stevens noted that the persecution and investigators go side by side until the close of the persecution’s case.
Commissioner Allieu had told the court that he was on duty on the 3rd of March 2020 when he told his deputy, 2nd accused that he was going to hospital for a checkup.
He said he returned to the office the following day and met the first and second accused in the corridor leading to his office and the second accused told him that Paolo Conteh, the second accused had gone to renew the license for his pistol and that he (the second accused) had already done.
The witness said that under the Arms and Ammunition Regulation Act of 2014, owners of fire arms such as pistols are strongly warned not to take them to public places.
He recognized all three accused persons and stated that the second accused had served as deputy commissioner for 12 years and that both of them have a good working relationship. General Allieu said he was the commissioner authorized to sign and stamp an application form after going through all the processes to make it authentic, adding that such authority is only delegated to his deputy when he is out of the country. He said: ‘‘each time I want to go on leave or for a medical trip outside the country, I formally write the Secretary to the President for permission and I will ask them to appoint my deputy to serve as commissioner until I return,’’ he explained.
Under cross-examination by Lawyer Joseph Kamara, the witness told the court that he didn’t question the decision of his deputy to renew the license of the first accused at the time because he relied on his level of experience and expertise on the job and believed that he would have done the right thing.
Lawyer Wright challenged the witness saying that even without travelling outside the country; there are circumstances under which his deputy could act in his capacity. The witness answered in the affirmative but added that the deputy would need to seek his permission during such times.
The 12th prosecution witness Francis Lansana Saidu, a car washman at State House recognized the first accused and said he saw him drive in to State House on the 19th of March this year. ‘’I saw one Range Rover and four of us (Car Washmen) rushed at it because it is our daily practice. So when I realized we were many, I stayed back while the other three boys found a safe parking space for the accused and said they were going to wash his vehicle. I saw the first accused come out of his vehicle and order the boys to remove the mat inside his vehicle which they did. He locked his vehicle and took a brown bag with him into State House,’’ Saidu explained.
He also said the first accused returned with a security guard and gave the car wash boys 20 thousand Leones and drove off.
The hearing continues.
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