December 3, 2021
By: Audrey John
Isatu Nyama Jawara a pharmacist and Katumu Kanneh a farmer made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on fourteen count charges to wit one count of Conspiracy to commit human trafficking contrary to section 18 of the Anti- human trafficking Act No.7 of 2005 and thirteen count ranging from engaging in human trafficking contrary to section 2 (2) of the Anti- human trafficking Act 2005.
According to the particulars of offence on a diverse dates between the 1st to 20th September 2021 Kenema both accused persons conspired together and with other persons unknown to traffic Yatta Massaquoi, Mamie Dakuwa and Sao Amara from Kenema to Madamaya Kambia, en route to Guinea for the purpose of exploitation and engaged in trafficking in person by the transfer of Ibrahim Mansaray from Kenema to Madamaya, Kambia en route to Guinea by means of deception for the purpose of exploitation.
Prosecution witness number three Yatta Massaquoi a pupil narrated her ordeal in court that she was staying with her Mother at Geima Dama Kenema, the victim recognized both accused persons in the dock as her relatives.
She said on that day she went to her father at Gbogboma village whilst at the said village the first accused person arrived there for traditional healing in respect of her feet, the first accused person told her father that she want to Foster her and nurture her in Guinea and the father accepted that the first accused person should travel with her to Guinea.
The victim said herself and her mother travelled to Kenema where she met the first accused person.
The victim was struggling to testify in krio language and the court thought it fit together with the prosecuting team and the defence counsel to call on an interpreter to interpreter from Mende to krio and from krio to Mende and the interpreter took the Oath.
The victim said when they consulted her grandmother she refused saying that the first accused person should not travel with her to Guinea her father insisted that the first accused person should travel with her to Guinea and they later met the first accused person in Kenema city the first accused person gave the money to the owner of the vehicle.
They on board the vehicle and they are nine in numbers including himself and the son of the first accused person Sheik Keita there were five boys and four girls in the vehicle. The victim said she didn’t know the second accused person in the matter the victim said the first accused person was in the vehicle with them whilst they were on their way to Guinea the police intercepted the driver for his driving license but he was without driving license and the driver was arrested and his vehicle impounded. The police took their names down including their parents and the first accused person was also interrogated. The victim said she later made statement to the police station.
The defence counsel U. Sesay renewed the previous Bail applications for and on behalf of both accused persons having heard the evidence and taken into consideration that the first accused person has a physical challenge whilst the second accused has not been so far implicated in view of the above he granted bail to each accused persons in the sum of two hundred and fifty million Leones each or two sureties each in like sum sureties must be resident in the western area they should be responsible citizen they should produce their addresses in Freetown one of the sureties should be employed from a recognized institution.
The said surety should produce either employment letter or identity card of the said institution.
Bail to be approved by the Deputy Acting Registrar
Assistant Superintendent of police C. Davies Cole is prosecuting the matter which adjourned to the 8th December 2021 for further hearing.