Sub-Inspector Kamanda attached to the Wellington Police Post in the East of Freetown yesterday Tuesday 19 September 2023 explained during a cross examination in court that he on Monday 11 September, 2023 arrested the first accused, Abdulai Kamara, and three others based community residents driven intelligence at Old Wharf.
Kamara and three others were arraigned before Magistrate Hadiru Daboh of Ross Road Court No.3 for the offences conspiracy to commit felony, riotous conduct, obstruction and ‘unlawful assembling.’
It was alleged that the accused on Monday 11 September, 2023 at Old Wharf in Wellington conspired with unknown persons to commit a crime to wit, ‘unlawful assembly.’
The charge sheet furthered that on the same date and place in Freetown, behaved in a ‘riotous manner.’
The police on the same date and place, the accused obstructed the free flow of traffic by blocking traffic contrary to the Road Traffic Act.
After reading the charges, the defence counsel R. Mansaray was about to raise an objection on count three, but Magistrate Daboh overruled saying he cannot entertain such objection.
Giving his testimony from the witness stand, the first prosecution witness (PW) 1, Sub-Inspector Magnus Kamanda, recognised the accused and could recalled 11 September, 2023.
Kamanda told the Bench that he was on duty at on the said date at Produce Marketing Board – PMB, Wellington Junction with his colleagues and some members of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, (RSLAF) when he received intelligence of an alleged unlawful assembling of the accused. He said upon receiving the information, he ordered his team and visited the crime scene at Maxwell Street, Wellington, but there was nothing of police interest.
He said they advised the youth and went back to PMB Junction where they were informed that some youth have barricaded the main road leading to Old Wharf.
The witness said reaching at the crime scene, they discovered four vehicle tires and a wooden bench were discovered.
“My Lord, we removed the items from the road and advised the youth to maintain the peace”, he said.
He said on their way back to PMB, they met a police officer and informed him about what transpired between them and the youth.
He said he advised them to go back to the crime scene, upon their arrival they saw the first second and third accused and they were identified by community people as part of those obstructing traffic on the day in question.
He said they were arrested and handed over to a police called Alicious and on their way the fourth accused was apprehended and taken to the nearest police post.
Having concluded his testimony, the prosecutor applied for a subpoena to be served on the second prosecution witness.
Defence counsel, R. Mansaray cross examined the witness on behalf of his clients.
Lawyer Mansaray applied for bail on behalf of the first and the second accused citing section 79 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.
He assured the court that his clients have reliable sureties willing and ready to stand on their behalf, if granted bail.
He promised that they will not interfere with the prosecution’s witnesses.
Magistrate Daboh refused the accused bail and sent them on remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter comes up again on 21 September, 2023.
