By: Audrey Raymonda John
Ibrahim Kamara who was arrested on 18th May, 2023 by Detective Police Constable (DPC) 11495 Kargbo appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 in Freetown for allegedly insulting and wounding Yainkain Fofonah in manner thereby causing her grievous bodily harm.
The accused appeared before the court on three counts charges of conspiracy, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and insult and provocation contrary to law.
It was alleged by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the accused, Ibrahim Kamara on Friday 22nd July 2022 at Moeba Kissy in Freetown, conspired with unknown persons to commit a crime.
The police say the accused, on the same date and place in Freetown, in the view of the public and in presence of the complainant insulted the complainant and at the same time assaulted the Yainkain Fofanah in a manner thereby causing her grievous bodily harm.
Led in evidence by Chief Inspector Isatu Bangura, prosecution witness (PW) 1, Yainkain Fofanah said she recognized the accused and could recall the day in question.
Madam Fofanah continued said on that day she was at her business place at Moeba Community in Freetown, when she saw the accused, Ibrahim Kamara with other men running after CID officers.
The witness said when she advised the accused to stop doing such because if anything happened, the entire community would suffer and their businesses may stall.
She said based on that the accused and his men scattered his business.
She said she reported the matter to the Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division in Freetown.
She said when she returned home, the accused ran after her, adding that during the process, the accused, Ibrahim Kamara, instructed his brother, Bakar, to cut her with a cutlass which he did.
PW1 said the accused’s brother eventually cut her with a cutlass and kicked her in the stomach.
She said the accused used all sorts of invective words on her and ended up reporting the matter to the Ross Road Police Station, where she was issued with a police medical request form for treatment at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown.
She at the hospital she received nine stitches and was rescue by one boy whose name was not mentioned.
The witness said she was admitted for three days, adding that when she was discharged, she returned the endorsed medical paper to the police which was produced and tendered for identification.
During cross examination by defence counsel, Musa A. Kamara suggested to the witness if she made a statement to the police to which she responded in the affirmative.
Lawyer Kamara suggested to her that the statement she made to the police is quite different from what she narrated to the court, which she answered in the negative.
Lawyer Kamara put it to the witness that when she allegedly heard the accused instructing his brother to cut her with a cut she was not close to him.
She said the accused was close to her.
Lawyer Kamara suggested to the witness prior to the incident, she and the accused was not in good terms.
Responding she said she and the accused were in good relationship.
Mr Kamara confronted the witness on the day of the incident, the accused never kicked her; Responding she said that he did.
He put it to her that she had malice against the accused; she said she had nothing against the accused.
Lawyer Kamara applied for the bail of the accused to be restored which was granted.
The matter was adjourned to Wednesday 6th September, 2023 for hearing.