By: Audrey Raymonda John
The sitting magistrate of Pademba Road court No.1, Mark Ngegba has in his ruling on the August 10th matter between the Inspector General of police and Abu Bakarr Conteh and five others to run a jail term of eighteen month imprisonment and ordered them to pay the sum of fifteen thousand Leones.
The accused Abu Bakarr Conteh and others were before the court on case file number 1944/2022 on two count charges of riotous conduct and disorderly behavior.
It was alleged that on 10th August 2022, the accused behaved in a riotous manner.
In count two, the police alleged that on that same date, in Freetown, the accused behaved in a disorderly manner.
Delivering his judgment, magistrate Mark said all six accused persons are charged with riotous conduct, Disorderly behavior,
It was alleged that on the 10th August 2022.the accused persons were found rioting and behaving in a disorderly manner.
The burden of the prosecutor in the matter was to prove the case of the accused beyond all reasonable doubt.
The first prosecution witness took the witness stand an narrated how he saw all six accused persons on the street on the date of the alleged incident. This according to Magistrate Mark Ngegba was corroborate by prosecution witness number two and three.
Magistrate Mark Ngegba said at the close of the prosecution’s case ten defence witnesses testified on behalf of the accused persons in the dock.
He analyzed step by step the evidence made by all accused persons.
He said Hassan Bangura third accused told the court that he is a Labourer at Sani Abacha Street and on the date of the incident he was eating foo-foo when the police arrested him.
He also stated that James Kamara fourth accused said he was going to Connaught mortuary when he got arrested.
After analyzing the evidence made by the accused on their defense, magistrate Mark Ngegba said the accused came in contact with the police on allegations related to crime is for them to prove their innocence.
He said a riot is conducted when a group of people come together and commit crime raising the fairness on others.
He said it is clear by prosecution witness number three that these accused are arrested on a place where the riots was committed.
Having read the preliminaries he held that the third, forth and sixth are guilty of the charges levied against them.
Counsel defending the accused persons Gbatundu Nyeyia Kutubu plea on behalf of his clients and further asked the Bench to tamper justice with mercy.
He prayed for a minor punishment to be given to his client consider the time they have spent in prison.
The prosecutor Sergeant Macarthy in response to the defence said he relied on the wisdom of the Bench.
However, magistrate Mark Ngegba sentenced each convict ct in count one eighteen month imprisonment and pay fine of on hundred Leones and in count two the accused are to be imprisonment for six month and pay fine of five hundred Leones.
He said both judgments are to run concurrently.
