By: Mohamed Sahr
Mohamed Johnson, Aiah Komba, Kalilu Fofanah, Victor Kellie and Ishmail Charles all accused persons were arraigned before Justice Monfred Sesay on two court charges of conspiracy and murder on Wednesday 24th May 2023 at the High Court of Sierra Leone in Freetown. The murder incident of Kai Osman Fingiah took place at Koidu Town in Kono.
Testifying before the court, Prosecuting Witness 13535 Detective Police Constable Mohamed Alie Mansaray attached at the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters in Freetown said on 5th May 2021 whiles on duty at the Major Incident Units at CID headquarters had enquiring file containing statement of complainant including witness and a knife with a brown handle was allocated to him for further investigation. He furthered that on 31st May 2021, himself and Detective Inspector BA Munu obtained separate charge statements from the accused persons.
Detective Inspector Mohamed Alie said the first accused Mohamed Johnson was cautioned and questioned by Detective Inspector BA Munu in krio which he recorded in English. He said he read the statement to the first accused person in krio and explained in English which the accused person admitted to be true and corrected by affixing his right-hand thumb print. He said the statement was signed by BA Munu as witness and he signed the statement as a recorder. In the same vein, the second accused Aiah Komba was also cautioned and questioned in krio by Detective Inspector BA Munu of which he recorded in English. Constable Mohamed Alie Mansaray read the statement in English and explained in krio to the second accused person. The charge statement was signed by Detective Inspector BA Munu as witness and Detective Inspector Mohamed Alie Mansaray signed as a recorder.
Kalilu Fofanah, Victor Kellie and Ishmail Charles were separately cautioned and questioned on the same grounds which the first and second accused persons underwent by Detective Inspector BA Munu and Detective Inspector Mohamed Alie Mansaray. They were separately admitted to the statements to be true and corrected by separately affixing their right-hand thumb prints.
Justice Monfred Sesay asked the foreman counsel for any objection as the matter was unfolding and he admitted that no objection. Pursuant to Section 182 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1965, Act No. 32 of 1965, Randy Salieu Bangura Esq of Legal Aid Board assent as the Defence Counsel for the accused persons in the presence of ten (10) Jurors. The State Counsels were Aruna Jalloh Esq, Moses Johnson Esq and Tommy Bangahun Esq. However, Justice Monfred Sesay adjourned the matter on 31st May 2023.
