By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
The Acting Chief Security Officer (CSO), Melvin Francis Jackson who doubles as the Human Resource Officer (HR) at Wongor Mining Group yesterday Tuesday 23rd August 2022, testified in the ongoing alleged gold robbery matter.
The accused Amadu Bello Mohamed Tholey, Augustine Korfuma aka Councilor, Boise Gibnia Conteh, and Daniel Somuta aka One Man Geng are under preliminary investigation before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.1 for four counts offences of conspiracy, robbery with aggravation, and assault, carrying offensive weapons without lawful authority contrary to the laws of the state.
The particulars of offences on count one state that the accused on Friday 1st July 2022, at Wongor Mining International Cooperation Sierra Leone Ltd at Kumoroh Village in Nimikoro Chiefdom, Kono District, the accused conspired with other persons unknown being armed with cutlass and scissors to rob a Chinese National Ruiping Chen of a black bag containing four thousand, four hundred and ninety-eight point five grams concentrate of gold substance valued at NLe522,500/00, and at the same time of or immediately before or immediately after the said robbery, did use personal violence to the said, Chen.
It was further alleged that the accused assaulted Chen in a manner thereby occasioning actual bodily harm, while the accused Daniel Samura carried offensive weapons wit cutlass and scissors without lawful authority or reasonable excuses.
The PW3 disclosed to the Court his duties and responsibilities of the company including supervising the day to day activities of the said company.
The PW3 recognized the first accused as a Security Guard, the second accused as Head of Vigilante, the third accused Security Guard, as well as the fourth accused respectively.
He recalled on the aforesaid date when he was at the mining site between 9 am to 10 am, and he received a call from one of his Staff, he said he then mobilized his Security Personnel (RSLAF and OSD) to move to the processing plant of the company, upon their arrival, he met some of the workers and some securities including the first and third accused.
The PW3 said that one of his Staff confirmed to him that some unknown men went into the bush with mineral, adding that he organized a search at the parameters of the Mining land, and upon the search, they discovered the fourth accused wearing a face mask and he instructed him to remove the mask, and he identified him as the fourth accused and moved him to his office. According to PW3, in the presence of the Sub Inspector attached at the site interrogated the fourth accused who confirmed that the first accused called them and added that the fourth accused also confirmed that the first and second accused were also part of the deal.
The CSO informed the court that he took the first accused in presence of the fourth accused who confirmed that he was the one that called them.
The PW3 said that the first accused told him that the third and fourth were part of them, adding that when the search was on-going they found bullets at the exit point.
PW3 said the first accused stated that if he was part of the deal, they would go into percentages share, adding that they had a gun to execute the said deal. The PW3 asserted that he called the mortema Police Post and arrested all the accused.
Concluding, cutlass, bullets and facial mask were handed over to the Police as exhibits.
Under cross-examination by the Defense Counsel JM Jengo, PW3 said that there is a road to the said mining site.
He said he was not aware of any security personnel who shot one Daniel Koroma, adding that, he was aware of the Vigilante group formed by the Chiefdom Stakeholders and the Mining Company.
He revealed that the company is owned by Chinese Nationals.
The witness further responded that the place where the search was conducted is a prohibited area and that the accused was arrested within the parameter of the planting site.
At this stage, Lawyer Jengo renewed his application for bail, but was rejected and the accused persons were remanded back to prison and the matter was adjourned to Friday 26th August 2022.
