By Kemo Cham
Twenty-three supporters of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) are expected to appear in court on Friday, 30 August.
The accused face 22 counts charges, including malicious damage, riotous conduct, disorderly behavior and throwing missiles.
They were detained following violent clashes on July 29, 2019 at Hamilton Village during a political rally ahead of the cancelled August 24 by election. The accused persons allegedly set ablaze the vehicle of Josephine Jackson, one of the four candidates in the election which was eventually cancelled due to violence. They also allegedly damaged the residence of Fatmata Barrie.
Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Court No 1 at Pademba Road Magistrate Courts in Freetown is hearing the matter.
The suspects include Karamoh Kabba, Deputy Organising Secretary of the APC. The party has since branded their detention and trial as illegal and demanded their release.
Today’s appearance will be their fourth, since their arrest about a month ago.
The APC says it is expecting the court to grant the accused bail when they appear today.
A spokesman for the party told Politico on Wednesday that they will be going to court today to seek their release on bail.
Mohamed Kamara, alias Pope, a member of the National Publicity Secretariat of the party, said they view the prosecution of the men as a continuation of the harassment of its supporters “to kill their spirit.”
Kamara said that even though the party doesn’t have faith in the judiciary, they still expect the court to do the right thing.
“We are expecting them to grant them bail. They are not criminals. These are people who have worked through democratic means in this country,” he said in a telephone interview.
There have been expressions of concerns over their arrests and prolonged detention.
© 2019 Politico Online
