October 12, 2021
By: Francis F.M. Harding
The accused person Abdul Sonny 20 years old for the first time appeared before Hon. Justice Reginal Fynn on the 8th October, 2021 for robbery and assault Occasioning bodily harm. The accused person is before the court on two counts charges.
According to the particulars of offense which state that on count one the accused person 28th June, 2020 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone robbed Kogbi Tucker of his gold chain valued at four hundred United States Dollar ($400USD) equivalent to four million Leones (Le4,000,000/00), one 43 inches Plasma TV values four million Leones (Le4,000,000/00), one IPhone 5 mobile values two million five hundred thousand Leones (Le2,500,000/00), one Techno Pro 8 mobile phone value one million five hundred thousand Leone (Le1,500,000/00) total values twelve million Leones (Le12,000,000/00) property of Kogbi Tucker.
In Count Two, the accused person on the 28th June, 2020 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone assaulted Patrick Kabba in a manner where by occasioning actual bodily harm. After the court registrar read the charges the accused person pleaded not guilty to the offences.
The State Counsel V.E.A. Kabia said she has already filed an application for the accused person to be on trial by a judge alone instead of the judge and jury and the application was granted. She continued to say that they are constrained in preparing witnesses which is the same as in this file but however, they were fortunate to contact the complainant via mobile phone but he was unable to attend as the notice was too short and they have not yet conferred with him.
Defense Counsel H. Momoh makes an application for bail for the accused person. He said the offense by nature is very serious by the law as it has given the lordship his fatal discretion whether to grant his bail or not.
Defense Counsel said he is ordinary resident within the jurisdiction and he has credible sureties who are willing to enter into recognizance and to produce the accused person whenever the court wants to.
The defense continued to say he will not enter into the prosecution`s witnesses.
The accused person was asked by the judge where he stays the accused person said he stays at Bonthe.
Responding to the accused person, the judge said he will put him on bail and he wants two sureties to bail him.
The state said that the judge should give them small time as they have already prepared their affidavit in objection for bail.
At this juncture, the judge grant bail in the sum of fifty million Leone, two sureties in like one of whom should be property owners in the Western Area and must deposit title bids to the Master and registrar who shall vet and approve the bail.
The accused person must report three times at the Criminal Investigations Department every morning. The matter has been adjourned to the 15th October, 2021. V.E.A. Kabia and D. Sawyer appeared for the State whiles H Momoh appears for the accused person from Legal Aid Sierra Leone.