November 11, 2021
BY PROBLYN J. ALPHA
19 year Old boy identified as Ibrahim Marrah S.S.S. One pupil of Universe Senior Secondary School in Kono District has reportedly committed suicide after being placed under detention at the Koakoyima Police Post in Koidu City, Kono District.
The suicide was committed after the suspect was accused of stealing a mobile phone.
The incident occurred in the evening hours of Sunday 7th November, 2021.
According to eye witness account Ibrahim Marrah now deceased was accused of stealing a Mobile phone belonging to his friend. Upon producing the phone, his friend who was believed to be the owner of the phone denied taking back the phone alleging that the phone had got some cracks.
The owner of the phone requested two hundred thousand (Le 200,000) as compensation of which the mechanic Boss to Ibrahim Marrah now deceased consented to pay with an initial advanced payment of one hundred thousand Leones ( Le 100,000) Sierra Leone Currency.
The repayment did not materialize which eventually prompted for the accused Ibrahim Marrah to be taken to the Police were he was locked up in an exhibit store at the Koakoyima Police Post.
Later it was reported that the accused Ibrahim Marrah allegedly hung himself to death.
Members of the human Rights Committee in Kono District visited the scene of the incident after which they went to Motema Police Division to ascertain the realities around the story.
A member of the team Sahr Blessing Joe who led the visitation labelled the act as negligence of duty on the Part of the Police officers.
According to him the accused Ibrahim Marrah now deceased was locked up in a store where exhibit of matters related to Crime are normally stored by an OSD Police Officer who was assigned to be deployed in Sandor Chiefdom ahead of the Local Council Bye elections.
The Local Unit Commander of the Motema Police Divisional Headquarters in Kono District.
Superintendent of Police Junisa Ben Mohamed has condemned Police actions leading to the alleged hanging to death of Ibrahim Marrah.
He said it was neglect on the part of the Police while assuring members of the public that, they will bring to book all the Police Officers that have bearing in the matter. According to him, he has sent correspondence to the AIG East who had asked him to gather all evidences for onward investigation by the Internal Police Complaint Board (IPCB).
At least two of the Police officers who were believed to be assigned on duty including the Officer commanding the Koakoyima Police Post Sgt. Yambasu are presently under custody at the Motema Police Divisional Headquarters helping the Police with the investigations.
The LUC of the Motema Police Divisional Headquarters superintendent of Police Junisa Ben Mohamed has also ordered the arrest of the OSD in question.
Meanwhile the Corpse of the deceased is lodged in the Mortuary at the Koidu Government Hospital in Kono while investigations continue.