By: Audrey John
Alleged Lungi rioters, Lamin Kessebeh and four others were charged to count on three counts charge for disorderly behavior, riotous conduct, and throwing missiles contrary law.
According to the particulars of offences, on Wednesday 10th August, 2022 at Lungi in Kaffubulom Chiefdom in Port Loko District, the accused did behave in a riotous and disorderly manner and were found throwing missiles.
Led in evidence by Sergeant 9939 Lahai M, first Prosecution Witness (PW1) Police Constable 18105 Amara K. Tarawally attached at the Airport Police Division in Lungi recognized the accused in the dock.
The PW1 recalled on the aforesaid date that he was on duty at the Airport, adding that he received intelligence that a group of protesters who ply on the street of Masoyla were approaching the Airport.
He said, he, Inspector P.M. Koroma and others went to the scene, upon their arrival, he saw the protesters possessing stones sticks.
According to him, the protesters were advice to stop but they did not, adding the accused threw the said items on them.
He said that in order to dispatched the crowd, they fired tear gas, adding that the accused continued to do the same thing and due to their persistency they arrested the accused persons and handed over to the Investigators. PW1 said that he made statement with regards to the alleged incident.
Under cross examination by the Defense Counsel F. Kotu Esq. for the fifth accused, the PW1 confirmed that the fifth accused was arrested at the airport gate and was among the protesters.
PW1 said that he cannot recall the color of trousers and clothes the first accused wore, noting that he was not the one that arrested the fifth accused.
In continuation of cross examination by the Defense Counsel Lansana Dumbuya Esq., for the first to the fourth accused, PW1 confirmed that he knew the first accused before the incident, whilst the others he came to know them in this matter.
The PW1 reiterated that there were large crowd during the alleged incident, and they were shouting Maada Bio must go.
PW1 revealed that he arrested the second accused at the gate of the airport.
PW1 furthered that 12 suspect were arrested but he did not see where the first to the fourth accused where arrested
PW1 furthered stated that the accused persons were involved in a riotous conduct.
Second Prosecution witness (PW2) Inspector Precious Francis Koroma attached to the Airport Police Division as an acting OPS officer he recognized the accused persons and recalled on the 10 August 2022 that he was on various patrol on the said date.
PW 2 said he deployed Police officers around the area and within few minutes he saw a lot of crowd coming towards the Airport. He said he received information from his OSD Officers and instructed them to fire teargas to dispatch the crowd as the situation was seriously tense.
PW 2 said he returned to the main gate of the Freetown international Airport and met some protesters arrested and were taken to the police station for further investigation. The witness said he later wrote his police report and handed over it to the police officer; the report was produced and tendered in court and marked as exhibit D1-2.
Later further questions were posed to the witness by defense Counsel Lansana Dumbuya Esq and the accused persons who were unrepresented.
The defense counsel requested for short adjournment date for further cross examined, while bail for all accused persons was refused by the magistrate.
Matter was adjourned to the 5th September 2022, while the accused persons were sent to the male correction center.
