By: Audrey John
45yrs old Musa Raka Kamara a driver made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on one count charge of Cyber stalking and cyber bullying contrary to section 44 (2) of the Cyber Security and Crime Act 2021.
According to the particulars of offence on Thursday 5th May 2022 through Social media via What Sapp group electoral commission staff Association (ECSA) of the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone tower hill the western area in Freetown recklessly or intentionally sends a message using a computer system or network he knows to be false for causing danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone or causes such a message to be sent.
The charges were read and explained to the accused person and a plea was taken.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of police Christiana Davies Cole ESQ the second Prosecution witness (PW2) the executive secretary for the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone William Addo Davies.
PW2 said his functions as the head of secretarial to supervise all directors of the Commission hand also serve as the voting controller and as secretary to the board.
He said he knew the accused as one of the drivers for the Electoral Commission and has been the driver since 2018.
The witness said he recalled on the 5th May 2022 was on duty at his office when the Commission Mrs. Marian Moijeh who is the Electoral Commissioner for the Eastern region and at the same time the Overseas for the Human Resources functions. The witness said he went to her office where she gave him information in respect of an Audio meeting he looked into their What Sapp group and listened to the Audio. The continues that Audio was sent by the accused person to the (ECSL) WhatsApp group the accused person was making allegations against the Commission to another person who is out of the Commission.
The witness said the accused person directed the Audio to one Nfa and referenced the chief Electoral Commissioner that he was holding a meeting with other organizations, and according to the accused these organizations will serve as a cover to endorse elections that will not be free and fair the accused person also said he will continue to provide such information from time to time. Immediately, the witness said he made a statement to the police in his office.
Cross-examination by defense counsel Ibrahim Turay asked the witness how long has he been working for the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone the witness said since 2008, you will agree with me that the alleged Audio was sent to your What Sapp group and the group is restricted to only Staff of the said Commission; he witnesses said yes, you said this alleged Audio was posted by the accused person can you tell us the networking; the witness said it was 077 number, did you work for Africell company; the witness said no, you said the alleged Audio was made to disseminate information of ECSL to an alleged individual; the witness said yes, can you tell the name of the individual; the witness said his name was Kotor Nfa, is Kotor Nfa a worker at ECSL the witness said no at the time he posted they didn’t have Nfa.
The defense counsel renewed his previous bail applications on behalf of the accused person.
However, Magistrate Kekura refused bail based on the evidence adduced and sent the accused person to the male correctional center in Freetown matter adjourned and the 5th August 2022 for further hearing.
