By: Audrey Raymonda John
A Manson, Joseph Thomas appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 for allegedly robbing and assaulting Zanab Sesay.
Joseph was arraigned before the court on two counts charges of robbery with violence and assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to law.
Police records showed that the accused, on Monday 24th July, 2023 at Texaco Lorry Park Kissy in Freetown robbed Zainab Sesay of her Ladies’ bag contained a Tecno mobile phone and a cash of six hundred leones totaling one thousand, five hundred and ninety leones (NLe 1,590).
After the robbery Joseph assaulted the complainant in a manner thereby causing her grievous bodily harm.
Prosecution Detective Sergeant 8618, Foday Kofafo Sesay attached to the Anti-Robbery unit, Regional Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division recognised the accused and recalled 25th July 2023.
On the said date, Sergeant said he was on duty at the above-mentioned police division when a case and enquiry file from Grafton Police Post was brought to the Anti-Robbery unit.
He said the case file contained the complainant’s statements, endorsed medical paper and the accused’s voluntary caution statement.
Sesay told the court that the matter was assigned to him by Detective Inspector Mohamed Z . Kabba for onward investigation.
The endorsed medical paper was produced and tendered marked exhibit “A”.
On the same day, he added he and Detective Inspector Kabba obtained an additional voluntary caution statement from the accused, which he admitted to it to be true and correct by affixing his right thumbprint, witnessed by Detective Inspector Kabba.
The accused’s voluntary caution statement was produced and tendered to form part of the court’s records.
The witness said on 4th August, 2023 he and Detective Inspector Kabba charged the accused with offences of robbery with violence and assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to law.
The charge statement was produced and tendered in evidence.
During cross examination by unrepresented accused confronted the witness that he identified the man who he allegedly sole the stolen phone to him at Shell.
Sergeant Sesay responded in the affirmative adding he was unable to arrest him.
The accused asked the witness if he had any photographs to show the court that he allegedly assaulted the complainant and snatched her mobile phone from her.
Responding, he answered no.
He put it the witness that the incident occurred at his residence to which he responded in the negative.
The accused is still on bail and the matter was adjourned to 26th October, 2023 for further hearing.