By Mohamed Foday Conteh
Testifying on Monday 20th September this year in an alleged arms and ammunition matter involving Member of Parliament Emmanuel Saidu Conteh and two others, Foday Fofanah, a Supervisor at Queen Elizabeth II Quay, said that bullets, magazines and other dismantled components of a gun were found at the back of a Nissan Pathfinder vehicle.
Speaking before Magistrate Sahr Kekura, the supervisor said that it was on Friday 2nd July 2021 while on his supervisory role at the quay that something strange occurred. He said at around 4, one Abdul Fatta Rahman was examining the car in question and called his attention. He said he went closer to the vehicle where Rahman informed him that they saw some strange things in the grey coloured pathfinder vehicle. He was told that there was ammunition in the backseat of the car and that he also confirmed the same when he peeped into the back seat of the car.
The witness told the court that the discovery prompted him to call the attention of one Sannoh, a customs officer. Sannoh also saw the items and in turn called the intelligence officer at the quay, one Muana. He said himself, Sheriff the consignee, the first accused, and Rahman were together when Sannoh instructed that the discoveries be placed in a plastic bag. Rahman took the items and placed them in a grey plastic bag. He said that he left them at the crime scene to continue his supervisory work.
During cross- examination, Emmanuel Teddy Koroma counsel for the first accused was concerned about the dynamics of Fofanah’s duties. Fofanah affirmed that he was responsible for assigning Rahman and 3 others to check containers. He said that Rahman was assisted by another to check the vehicle in question. However, Koroma drew reference to the testimony adduced by Rahman that he was the only one that checked the vehicle. Fofanah maintained that Rahman was not the only one at the scene when he went there but there was also one Musa, a Bollore staff.
He maintained that it was dismantled ammunition accessories that he saw at the alleged scene. Fofanah also told the court that he had not seen a real pistol before. The witness answered the lawyer that he remembered on the 8th September 2021 he and Rahman were both in court to testify. He said that he was not standing at the window but he only gazed through the window to see whether the matter had been adjourned. Koroma, however, put it to the witness that he was standing at the window while Rahman was testifying in court on the said date.
Jesse Jengo, in his cross-examination, referenced that the court summoned the witness to stand in front of the Magistrate on the day Rahman was testifying. Jengo proposed that the rationale for his summoning was to admonish him. The witness affirmed that he remembered what he was told. He said that the court told him that he should not have stood by the window on the said date.
Magistrate Sahr Kekura adjourned the matter for the 27th of September this year with Lansana Dumbuya set to cross-examine Fofanah, whilst another witness will testify. All accused persons are on bail.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (22/09/21)
