By: Audrey John
Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.2 has adjourned the ongoing assault matter between the Director of Research of the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Dr. Yakama Jones and the former consultant of the aforesaid Ministry, Kaifala Mohamed to the 22nd March 2022 for ruling.
Initially, Magistrate Ngegba adjourned the matter on 21st March to deliver a ruling, but it was adjourned for ruling.
The Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Madam J.M.S Bull led three witnesses including the complainant and closed her case.
The defence counsel, H.F Gabber opened their case.
Testifying in court the Former Consultant of the aforementioned Ministry, Kaifala Mohammed told the bench that he recognized the complainant, Dr. Yakama Jones for the past year and could recall 9th February 2022.
On that day, he said he and his mother, whose name was not disclosed, went to the said ministry to the Chief Economist of the said ministry for his salary for the month of August 2021.
Mr. Mohamed said on their way coming, they came across with the Chief Economist at the ministry’s corridor, who asked to wait for him at his office door.
“When the Chief Economist retuned, he instructed me to take my documents to the complainant in her office, which I did,” accused narrated in court.
He said when he entered into the complainant’s office, she greeted her and he then narrated her (complainant) that he had been done a presentation on project for ministry, but he had not being pay by the said ministry.
“She then became annoyed and slapped the table saying that let me not intimidate and provoked her. I then left her office,” he reechoed the complainant.
The defence witness rounded her evidence stating that he was invited to the police station in Freetown, adding upon his arrival, though he told the police that he was not in a better position to make, the investigator coerced him to do so, he noted.
During cross examination by the prosecutor, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) J.M. Bull asked Keifala Mohamed why he went together with mother to the ministry.
In replied, he said he wanted his mother to act as mediator between them.
Madam Bull suggested to him that he was not happy when his salary was withheld by the ministry, which he answered in the affirmative.
She asked the witness whether he went together with his mother to complainant’s office. He said ‘no’.
The accused appeared before the count for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and wounding, which are contrary to the Offences against the Persons Act of 1861.
The police alleged that Keifala Mohammed, on 9th February 2022 at Ministry of financial (MOF) George Street in Freetown, assaulted and wounded the complainant, Dr. Yakama Jones, in a manner thereby causing her grievous bodily harm.
The accused is on bail, while the matter was adjourned to 22nd March 2022 for ruling.
