By Henry Kargbo
High Court Judge of Sierra Leone Hon. Justice Adrian Fisher on Friday 2 September 2022, fondled out the bail application of Laj‘s brother and ten others and ordered both counsel to prepare their summary before September 14, 2022.According to the ruling of Justice Fisher, the appellants, among the issues highlighted by the counsel, relied on the entirety of the affidavit and argued that the two grounds that formed the basis of the appeal “are not summary offences”.
Justice Fisher told the court that the appellants are first time offenders with good grounding and prospect for success. The Judge said he had listened to all arguments made by both counsel and he would look into the law on whether bail should be granted.
Justice Fisher said the counsel of the plaintiff failed to state the law that would warrant the appellants to be granted bail pending the hearing of the appeal. Justice Fisher told the bench that the appellants’ counsel failed to state the law that will grant the bail application.
Justice Fisher stated that Mark Ngegba of Magistrate Court had convicted Laj‘s brother and ten others on a two-count charge of riotous conduct and disorderly behavior and sentenced them to eighteen months on each count.
The judge made the ruling while counsel Pa Momoh Fofanah opened an appeal at the high court and applied for bail on 19 July 2022 through a notice from motion, seeking that the court should grant the convicts bail pending the hearing referring to section 67(21) of the Court No. 31 of 1965, and the application was supported by the appellants’ affidavit. Justice Fisher adjourned the matter till 20 September 2022.
