By: Audrey Raymonda John
Fidwan Alhaji Turay who was arrested on 29 June 2023 by Detective Sergeant 5515 Kamara M has been arraigned 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 was charged to court after police investigation for the offences of conspiracy with intent to murder, two counts of robbery with aggravation three counts charges of wounding and two count charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
It was alleged that on Sunday 19th of February 2023 at No. 286 Regent Road Grafton on the outskirts of Freetown, the accused conspired with unknown persons unknown to commit a felony, to wit, robbery with aggravation.
The police say the accused, on the same date and place in Freetown, wounded Khriji Halal with intent to murder him.
The charge sheet furthered that the accused, being armed with an offensive weapon robbed Khriji Halal 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 further 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 the formal witness Detective Sergeant Mansaray Kamara residing Brima Lane, in Wellington and attached to the Anti-Robbery Unit at the Regional headquarters Ross Road Police Station, Harbor Division recognized the accused.
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 contained statements from the complainants, endorsed two medical request form and photographs of the complainants.
The witness said on the same date, the accused was arrested by and brought in at the police station 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 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 and 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 of June 2023 the witness said 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 said on the 29th of June 2023 she charged the accused with the offences of conspiracy to commit a felony, wounding with intent to commit murder, robbery with aggravation, wounding with intent, wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The accused’s charge statement was produced and tendered in evidence.
At the end of her examination in chief, cross examination was deferred.
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 on the grounds of seriousness of the offence.
The matter was adjourned to the 4th of September 2023 for further hearing.