April 14, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding.
Hassan Bangura, a Scientific officer and Second Prosecution witness attached at the Criminal Investigation Department were in court to testify in a matter involving disrobed Police officers, Foday Momoh Kargbo and co. The accused persons were arraigned in court before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of court No.1 in Freetown on the 13th April, 2021.
The accused persons were allegedly accused of leaking a sensitive document sent to Inspector General of Police for extradition of some criminals that escaped from one of the neighboring countries to Sierra Leone contrary to the Laws of the Land.
The witness said he recognized the accused persons in the dock. He continued to say that on the 7th February, 2021 he was on duty when he received instruction from Detective M.Conteh, informing him to witness an analysis. The witness said as a Scene of Crime officer he went with his Nicon camera to take photographs, and was later printed into hard copies.
During cross examination, the witness said he does not know anything about the leak documents that was viral on the social media. He further said that he has worked for ten (10) years in the police force, and cannot tell the designations of the two accused persons.
He said upon conducting a research he was able to know that the first accused person was a former dispatch officer attached to the Police Headquarter in Freetown. Responding to questions from the second accused Lawyer, the witness said the date on the camera can only be functional if it is set.
On the same date, third Police Witness (PW3), Inspector Brima Turay, Finger Print Examiner attached to the Scientific Support Division at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), testified that he knew both accused persons before the court.
He said he received a warrant on the 5th February, 2021 and it was marked G1526/2021 with five fingers print photograph specimen. He said the document was received by the cyber unite, and the photos were received by the Scene of crime office.
The witness said he compared both fingers print on the warrant. He ordered Police Constable Bangura H. to take photograph of the first accused person. The witness said he compared the flexure of the four fingers of the first accused person to the fingers on the warrant. The witness said his findings were reduced into a report.
Joan Bull represented the State, while Lawyers for both accused persons were Campbell and M.S Koroma. Matter has been adjourned to the 20th April, 2021.