By Saio Marrah
Lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, representing Alpha Sheriff, in the ongoing preliminary investigation into illegal possession of small arms, has argued that the police did not exhibit a bullet in court. He did this as he cross-examined police exhibit clerk, detective sergeant Sorie Ibrahim Kamara who was tendering exhibits in connection with the case.
The witness had told the court that he received an unloaded pistol, bullets, and other items as part of the exhibits and that the bullet had earlier been tendered in court – a claim denied by lawyer Kamara who then applied for the police to bring their exhibit book to court at the next hearing.
Detective Kamara, who has served the police for 20 years, also told the court that he did not receive bags of rice and gallons of oil as part of the exhibit.
Meanwhile, magistrate, Mark Ngegba, refused the application for bail made by lawyer Kamara on behalf of Amara Sheriff. Kamara argued that the accused was entitled to bail and that the allegation of illegal possession of small arms against the first accused has so far not been proven.
He also said that the allegation of operating an illegal private security service levied against all the nine accused persons had not been established from the testimonies of the three witnesses so far.
While the first accused is separately charged with illegal possession of small arms, he, together with the other eight accused face other two counts of illegal operation of private security service, and having control of small arms.
The case resumes Monday 14th August 2023.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (09/08/23)
