By: Audrey Raymonda John
Alpha Bangura, Patheh Jalloh, Dauda Jalloh, Santigie Koroma, Abdul Bangura and three others on Friday 20 October, 2023 made another appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No.1 for alleged sacrilege and attempt arson.
The accused were arraigned before the court on six count charges ranging from Conspiracy, Sacrilege, Attempted Arson, Malicious damage, throwing missiles and Riotous conduct all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
Police alleged that the accused on Sunday 24 September 2023 at the Gate way Evangelistic Ministry Church at Quay, Kissy, in Freetown, conspired together with other persons to commit a crime.
Police further alleged that the accused on the same date and place breaks and enters into the said Church and stole two Lenovo Laptop computer, one Iphone 13 pro-max, one ultra-Samsung mobile phone and ten yards carpet totaling one hundred and twenty seven thousand two hundred Leones(127,200) Property of the said Church.
Police further alledged that the accused also attempted to set fire on the Gate way Evangelistic Ministry Church and also maliciously damaged fifty eight pieces of window glasses and it frames, three plasma televisions, two Hp I5 computers, one Yamaka Key board, one XL2 Canon video camera, one steel door, one CCTV camera, one solar light and one pieces of galter water.
The charge sheet furthered that the accused on the above date and place were found throwing missiles and did behave in a disorderly manner.
Led in evidence by the prosecutor Lawyer Forna Sesay, the witness Emmanuel Komba Banga recognized the accused in the dock and recalled on the same date.
He furthered that on that day he was at the church premise with minister Alicious Mark Komeh, Joseph Comba, Raymond Guggi and Josephus Mansaray base on a cleaning excercise and they were ordering Banabo who is the youth president, Bobson Bockarie and other youth members for them to help in cleaning of the church as they were having a youth thanksgiving.
The witness then described the premises of the church.
He said whiles cleaning the church they removed the four plasmas that were in the church and place them at the gallery upstairs by the back close to the window.
He furthered that after cleaning inside the church they went outside the church and clean the environment.
Witness Banga further that while cleaning outside the church he saw the first accused sister enter the church compound and she started to reigning abusive languages on them.
He said after using abusive languages the first accused said she is going to call her brother Alpha to deal with them.
He said few minutes later he saw the first accused entering the church with other people that he did not know.
He said some of the people held stones and sticks and the first accused was holding tire in his hand and a gallon containing fuel even though he was struggling with them and the others were also holding tires in their hands.
He furthered that when the first accused said he is ready to burn the church and he placed the tire in front of the gate and turned the fuel on it and he light it and the tire started burning and the first accused command his colleagues to stone the church and they started pelting stones at the church and abusing the pastor and members of the church.
He then identified the seventh accused including one LA and Bakarr who are not presently before the court that they were among the people brought by the first accused.
He continued that he was hiding in one corner and he was videoing them.
At this juncture, Lawyer Forna Sesay sought for an adjournment that a video has been mentioned and will like to tender it in court.
Defense Counsel Julian Cole objected that an adjournment should not be taken at this stage indicating that the witness can say what he has to say and tender the video later.
His objection was granted and the witness continues.
The witness in continuation stated that he was unable to complete the video because of the stone they were pelting on the church and he quickly ran and jump over the fence.
He furthered that later he then got information that police were around and they fired tear gas in the church and everyone scattered.
He said the first accused was arrested by Military personnel.
He said when he later came back from his hiding he shed tears when he saw what the accused did to the church and he saw the Bible that is been used by the pastor at the alter burning.
He furthered that he went into the church and there were sticks and stones all over the place and he went to the alter but did not see the bible.
He said he also went inside the media room and the camera that was positioned was break and the plasmas were also damaged.
He said the instruments of the church were also damaged.
He furthered that he then went downstairs and met Joseph Komba and Sahr Jimjama and blood was oozing from their noses and hands.
He said he then went to the Kissy Mess Mess and later made statement at the CID headquarters.
The witness said he has the video in his phone and would like the court to see it.
At this point defense Counsel Cole made an application before the court that a copy of the video been made available to them but magistrate Ngegba said he did not have the power to do that and he should speak to his colleagues on that.
The accused are on bail and the matter adjourned to the 23rd October 2023 for continuation.