By: Audrey Raymonda John
Cyber analyst of the scientific support unit, Detective Inspector Mohamed Jusu on Tuesday 24th January, 2023 displayed a video footage in Court showing Councilor Sheku Alhassan Gibrill Turay aka Ice T.
The accused Sheku Alhassan Gibrill Turay aka Ice T. is under trial before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.1 for one count offence of incitement contrary to law.
According to the particulars of offence, unknown date between 1st January, 2021 and 31st December, 2021, at New City Hall Administrative building, Wallace Johnson street, Freetown, the accused did make inciting statement with intent to undermine the peace.
In his testimony, cyber analyst said his role was to analyze all scientific evidence and do a report on them when required to do so.
He recalled on the 23rd September, 2022, he was on duty at the cyber lab when he received a request and a flash drive containing a video for examination, analysis, and report.
Jusu said he used a tool called harsh key which he used to harsh the video to check it authenticity and also used a tool called voice analyzer which is used to check whether a voice has been tampered with or not, adding that it help him to know that the said video was authentic and was not tampered with.
According to the Cyber analyst, he played the video severally where the accused made a statement.
He said in order to capture the words of the accused in the video, he was making his statement in krio and he transcribed it into English language.
Mr. Jusu stated that he reduced his observation into findings dated 19th October, 2022.
He said the flash drive has been under his custody.
At the stage of tendering the flash drive, lead Defense Counsel Lansana Dumbuya objected on the tendering of the flash drive, which according him, it ought to be available to them prior to the hearing in order to ascertain the authentication of it.
He said it would be unfair on their side if the flash drive was tendered.
In reply, State Prosecutor Yusif Isaac Sesay said the objection raised by the Defense Counsel did not formed the basis for electronic evidence not to be tendered in court
He said the witness has laid the clear foundation in his evidence.
He therefore urged the Bench to discountenance the objections raised by Lawyer Dumbuya.
Magistrate Ngegba overruled Defense Counsel’s objection raised and ordered for the flash drive to be tendered which the Prosecution did.
The Cyber analyst furthered that he reduced his observation findings into report and in the report was necessary based on the words of the accused.
Highlighting his observation and findings, Jusu said the video was not tampered with, it was a press conference organized by the Freetown City Council (FCC), where councilors made statements.
He added that Councilor Ice T made damaging statement against the Chief Administrator and local Government Minister, Tamba Lamin.
In his conclusion of the report, the witness said Councilor Ice T statement has the tenacity to fuel violence and to undermine the peace and security of the country.
When the video was played, the accused was seen in the video speaking and in his speech, Councilor Ice T said that politics and development has been diluted, citing several projects under the Freetown municipality.
He also stated that they would use the radical approach and they have 1000 manpower and they would cause unrest in Freetown and take people on the street, adding that they are ready for any consequences afterwards.
He stressed that they are more than ready if their complaints are not addressed and they would take the bull by the horn.
Under cross examination by Lawyer Dumbuya, the Prosecution witness said the conclusion was not based on his personal view.
He said having listened to the video; he was able to gather some concerns, adding that the accused gave a pre-condition.
The matter comes up again on the 7th February, 2023.