By Mamajah Jalloh
Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2, Monday 2th December 2024, made an order again that the former Deputy Minister 2, Patricia Laverley, be in court on the next adjourned date or else he would remand both sureties at the Correctional center.
It could be recalled that the former Minister, Patricia Laverley, was arraigned before the court on two count charges ranging from inflicting grievous bodily harm contrary to Section 20 of the Offense Against the Person’s Act 1861, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The indictment stated that the former Minister, Laverley on 12th November 2024 at State House in Freetown, assaulted Nabeela Farida Tunis with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on her.
The indictment furthered that the former Minister, Laverle,y on the same day and place, assaulted Nabella Farida Tunis in a manner thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.
This order came about after defense counsel, Leo Jenkins-Johnson, informed the court that the accused is still under the Intensive Care Unit at Choitram, and asked that the court move to the hospital to see that the former Minister is hospitalized.
Shortly after the matter was mentioned, lead defense counsel, Leo Jenkins Johnson first of all, apologized to the court for the absence of the former Minister, adding that she is still under the ICU and she has a heart attack. He said the court can go and confirm the health status of the former Minister.
The Defense Counsel, on the other hand, informed the Magistrate that they were able to initiate communication between the family of the victim, Minister Nabela, and the family of accused, Laverley, even though they have not come to conclusion.
He said they were well received by the family of the victim and have apologize to the victim, adding that she is one of the best serving Ministers.
Defense Johnson furthered that they want the former Minister to be in court to do the needful, but they needed sufficient time for her to sought out her medical, adding that they would like the former minister to be in court in a fit and proper manner.
Jenkins pleaded with the Magistrate to give time so that the accused would be in a better State of health to be in court. He said she was in court on the first date and since then she is unwell.
He pleaded with the Magistrate and the state counsel, adding that they would ensure that the matter be resolved as quickly as possible.
Yusuf Isaac Sesay, in repl,y said there is a court order and they are looking to the compliance of that order, which was instructive.
He said as a state, they are not averse to anything that would hinder Justice.
He said that during the first appearance, former Minister Laverley was in court and she pleaded not guilty of the offense when the charges were read and explain to her.
State counsel Yusuf Sesay further that the former Minister cannot be under oxygen from the 17 November and up to December, which is not possible.
He said the apologies of the former Minister should not be taken, adding that the former Minister, in an open court, pleaded not guilty and cannot now go through the back door to beg.
State counsel Sesay further that the defense is playing on their intelligence, adding that the former Minister need to be seen in court, if not, the bench warrant should be enforced.
Defense counsel Johnson further argued that what the state want is what they also want for the matter to be resolved, but said the bench warrant for the former Minister should not be issued the former Minister not to court and collapse.
Magistrate Santigie Bangura, after listening to both sides, said the defense are the ones prolonging the matter, adding that justice is for both sides.
He said if the former Minister is seriously sick as stated by the defense, she should be in court for everyone to see; and if it turns out to be true, he has the right to make the necessary orders.
He said justice is on both sides for the complainant and the accused.
Lead defense counsel, Johnson, furtherd that the court should move to Choitram to verify the situation of the accused.
State counsel Sesay opposed to that, adding that the defense counsel brought a medical report before the court, and the court order that the doctor be in court to ascertain the report but they refuse.
He said if the defense are afraid that the former Minister would collapse if brought to court, but they were not afraid for her to travel o Ghana for medical treatment.
The magistrate said he would not talk to both sides but would talk the sureties as they understand what was written on the bail conditions.
He therefore ordered both sureties that if the former Minister do not appear in court on Wednesday, they the sureties would be detained.
The matter was adjourned to Wednesday 4 December, 2024.
It could be recalled that the former Minister Patricia Laverley was arraigned before the court on two count charges ranging from inflicting grevious bodily harm contrary to section 20 of the offense against the person’s act 1861 and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The indictment state that the former Minister Laverley on the 12 November, 2024 at State House in Freetown, assaulted Nabella Farida Tunis with intent to inflict grevious bodily harm on her.
The indictment further that the former Minister Laverley on the same day and place assaulted Nabella Farida Tunis in a manner thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.
This order came about after defense counsel Leo Jenkins Johnson informed the court that the accused is still under the Intensive Care Unit at Choitram and asked that the court move to the hospital to see that the former Minister is hospitalized.
Shortly after the matter was mentioned, lead defense counsel, Leo Jenkins Johnson first of all apologize to the court for an absent of the former Minister, adding that she is still under the ICU and she has heart attack.
He said the court can go and confirm the health of the former Minister.
Defense Counsel on the other hand informed the Magistrate that they were able to initiate communinate between the family of the victim Minister Nabela and the family of accused Laverley even though they have not come to conclusion.
He said they were well received by the family of the victim and have apologize to the victim, adding that she is one of the best serving Minister.
Defense Johnson further that they want the former Minister to be in court to do the needful but they needed sufficient time for her to sought out her medical, adding that they would like the former Minister to be in court in a fit and proper manner.
Jenkins pleaded with the Magistrate to give time so that the accused would be in a better State of health to be in court.
He said she was in court on the first date and since then she is unwell.
He pleaded with the Magistrate and the state counsel, adding that they will ensure that the matter be resolved as quickly as possible.
Yusuf Isaac Sesay in reply said there is a court order and they are looking to the compliance of that order which was instructive.
He said as state they are not adverse to anything that will hinder Justice.
He said during the first appearance the former Minister Laverley was in court and she pleaded not guilty of the offense when the charges were read and explain to her.
State counsel Yusuf Sesay further that the former Minister cannot be under oxygen from the 17 November and uptill now in December which is not possible.
He said the apologize of the former Minister should not be taken, adding that the former Minister in an open court pleaded not guilty and now she cannot go through the back door to beg.
State counsel Sesay further that the defense are is playing on their intelligence, adding that the former Minister need to be seen in court if not the bench warrant should be enforce.
Defense counsel Johnson further argue that what the state want is what they also want for the matter to be resolved but said the bench warrant for the former Minister should not be issued and said that if the former Minister comes to court and collapse.
Magistrate Santigie after listening to both sides said the defense are the ones prolonging the matter, adding that justice is for both sides.
He said if the former Minister is seriously sick as stated by the defense, she should be in court for everyone to see and if it turns out to be true he has the right to make the necessary oders.
He said justice is on both sides for the complainant and the accused.
Lead defense counsel Johnson further that the court should move to Choitram to verify the situation of the accused.
The State counsel Sesay opposed that the defense counsel brought a medical report before the court and the court ordered that the doctor be in court to ascertain the report but they refuse.
Magistrate Bangura revealed that if the defense are afraid that the former Minister will collapse in court when she brought but they are not afraid for her to travel her to Ghana for medical treatment which has several struggles.
The magistrate noted he will not talk to both sides but will talk with the sureties as they understand what was written on the bail conditions.
He therefore ordered both sureties that if the former Minister did not appear in court on Wednesday, they the sureties will be detained.
However, the matter was adjourned to the 4th of December, 2024, for further hearings.
