August 10, 2021
By Audrey John
The previous file brought against Nabieu Unisa Raymond Bangura and four others has been discharge with the state bringing in the seventeen fresh charges dragging in the main opposition APC Hon. Saidu Emmanuel Conteh and Agnes Korto Reffle.
They are before magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road court No.1 for preliminary investigation on seventeen count charges of conspiracy to commit felony to wit the illegal importation of arms and ammunitions without lawful authority, transfer small arms into Sierra Leone without valid license, importation of small arms into Sierra Leone without a Small Arms and Ammunition permit, aiding and abating the importation of small arms in to Sierra Leone among others. However, pleas were not taken after charges were read to them.
After the charges have been put to the accused persons, State counsel JAK Sesay informed the bench that they intend to proceed but that they needed to make a brief adjustment on the previous file.
Speaking from the prosecution side, State counsel JAK Sesay said in view of case file number 1486, the prosecution has no intention to go further with that matter.
He urged the bench to discharge all accused persons on the previous file and asked for all exhibits to be return to them.
In light of the submission made by state counsel JAK Sesay, magistrate Sahr Kekura discharged all accused persons pursuant to section 94 of the Criminal procedure Act of 1965 and order for all exhibits to be handed over to them.
The discharge of this file makes third and fourth accused persons free as their evidences did not form parts of the present file before the court.
Proceeding with the new file, the state called on its first witness Mohamed Massaquoi a custom officer attached to the National Revenue Authority.
Stating some of his duties, Mohamed Massaquoi said he is responsible to protect revenue, facilitate grade, check restricted and prohibited goods, verified container inspections, after which he stamped and signed documents for release.
The witness recognized both accused persons and that on the 2nd July 2021; he was on duty when he received a phone call one Mohamed Sannoh.
Receiving the information he went to the site and on arrival, he met Mohamed Sannoh, a police officer ASP Isatu Kargbo an intelligence Officer Mr. Kamara, one Mr. Murana an intelligence attached to the port and he was informed that they detected a gray plastic bag containing arms and ammunitions.
He said the team told him they have cross check the contents in the plastic bag and ASP Isatu Kargbo and Mr. Kamara said they have counted the stuff.
Explaining further, the custom officer said he told them to properly search the vehicle in his presence an Instruction they complied with.
He said on that point he asked the OSD officer attached to take the plastic bag and told the other parties to follow him to his office. He said on reaching his office, he asked ASP Isatu Kargbo and Mr. Kamara to open the bag and take out the items.
“I told Mr. Kamara and Victor Murana to count the ammunition and I saw seven pistols, twelve empty magazines, one hundred cartridges”, he stated.
The custom officer said he instructed Mr. Kamara to take note of the items and requested for the delivery order in order to ascertain whether the items are stated on it but to no avail.
On that point he called the commissioner of customs and informs him immediately and instructed ASP Isatu Kargbo to inform the Assistant Inspector General of Police East and the Local Unit Commander.
He was still in his office when third accused Hon. Saidu Emmanuel Conteh surfaced with salute and introduced himself, and I responded and further asked him what to do for him and he told me he is there in respect of one vehicle that has issue with customs”, he stated.
However, the witness did not complete his testimony and the matter was adjourned to the 12th August, 2021.