By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Mr. William Konteh and others were arraigned before Justice Cosmotina Jarrett at High Court No.5&6 in Freetown.
O.V Robbin Mason Snr for the State made an application for a trial by a judge alone rather than a judge and jury, application for trial by a judge alone was granted by Justice Cosmotina Jarrett.
He continued also in applying for access to all documents made to the court in respect of the matter, but Defense Counsel for the 1st accused person D.E Taylor Pearce Esq objected to the application by State Counsel that the matter before the court is a fresh matter and no tendering of the document has been brought before the court.
I S Yillah Esq defence counsel for the 1st accused backed the objection of defense counsel D.E Taylor Pearce that no legal bases purporting the provisions made by State Counsel O.V Robbin Mason Snr in seeking access to documents when the matter is fresh.
Justice Cosmotina Jarrett in her ruling ruled that the matter before the court is a fresh matter and that no document has been brought before the court.
First Prosecution Witness (PW1) Osman Rahman Kamara who works at the Anti-Corruption as Principal Internal Auditor made testimony in relation to the matter.
He was asked by State Counsel to identify all accused persons and said he recognized all accused persons.
He said on the 7th of March in respect of the matter he obtained the Voluntary Caution Statement of the 1st accused.
He continued that prior to the commencement of the investigation section 57 notices were prepared and served to the Secretariat of the 50th Anniversary for the production of relevant documents.
He went on that the 1st accused was cautioned and questioned on the process he was represented by his legal counsel Tejan Cole Esq.
He said he interviewed the 1st accused on diverse dates between the 7th of March 2011 to the 18th of August 2011 and his responses were recorded on diverse dates.
The matter was stood down for a period of 30mins as the Voluntary Caution Statement of the 1st accused was given to him to confirm his signature to the signing of the VCS.
Witness Statement was tendered and there were no objections from defence counsel representing the accused persons and the witness statement was marked as Exhibit A1-39.
O.V Robbin Mason Snr Esq represented the state whilst D. E Taylor Pearce and I Yillah Esq represented the 1st accused and G.F Kandeh for the 2nd accused while M.M Pittars Esq for the 3rd accused.
The matter has been adjourned to the 30th June 2022.
