By: Audrey Raymonda John
Fidwan Alhaji Turay was arrested on 29 June 2023 by Detective Sergeant 5515 Kamara M appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No .1 in Freetown for allegedly conspiring with unknown persons to commit a felony to wit, robbery with aggravation.
The accused arraigned before the court for the offences of conspiracy, with intent to murder; two robbery with aggravation and count three charge with wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
It was alleged that the accused, on Sunday 19 February 2023 at No. 286 Regent Road Grafton on the outskirts of Freetown, conspired with unknown persons to commit a felony, to wit, robbery with aggravation.
The police said the accused, on the same date and place in Freetown, wounded Khaji Halal with intent to murder him.
The charge sheet furthered that the accused being armed with an offensive weapon robbed Hajir Halai NLe50,000, a laptop, a Toshiba laptop, Ipad, a cash of two thousand United States dollars and other valuables worth NLe144,000 and at the same time after the robbery, used personal violence against Khriji Halai.
It was alleged by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the accused, assaulted and wounded the complainant in a manner thereby causing him grievous bodily harm.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Osman M. Bangura formal witness Detective Sergeant Manseray Kamara residing at Brima Lane in Wellington and attached to the Anti-Robbery United at the Regional headquarters Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division.
The witness furthered that on the day in question she was on duty at the aforesaid unit, when a transfer case and enquiry file from Grafton Police Station was handed over to her by Detective Inspector Mohamed Kamara for onwards investigations.
Sergeant Kamara said the file was contained statements from the complainants and endorsed two medical report form including photographs of the complainants.
The witness on the same date, the accused was arrested by and brought him in at the police including with a phone Samsung S21.
The endorsed medical report papers were produced and tendered to form part of the court’s records.
The two photographs of the complainants were also produced and tendered in evidence.
The witness said she handed the Samsung phone over to the exhibit officer for safekeeping.
She continued that on 10th June 2023, she and Detective Inspector Mohamed Kabba obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused, adding that at the end of the statement the accused admitted to it to be true and correct by affixing his right hand thumbprint witnessed by Detective Inspector Mohamed Kabba.
The accused’s voluntary caution statement was produced and tendered to form part of the court’s records.
On 16th June 2023 she added that she and Detective Sergeant 8618 Sesay F. K obtained an additional voluntary caution statement from the accused, which he admitted it to be true and correct by affixing his right hand thumbprint witnessed by Detective Sergeant Sesay F. K.
The additional voluntary was produced and tendered in evidence.
The witness on 29 June 2023 charged the accused with the offences of conspiracy to commit a felony, wounding with intent to commit murder, two counts of robbery with aggravation, wounding with intent, wounding and two assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The accused’s charge statement was produced and tendered in evidence.
Cross examination was deferred.
Though defence counsel Alie Santos Sesay renewed and adopted his previous application for bail on behalf of the accused, citing section 79 of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965.
Magistrate denied the accused bail due to the seriousness of the offence.
The matter was adjourned to 27th Thursday 2023 for further hearing.