By: Audrey Raymonda John
Forty years old Santigie Fofanah a Kekeh rider made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba road court No.3 in Freetown on two count charges to wit Assault on police and Assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
According to the particulars of offence on Mon 29th May 2023 at PZ the western area in Freetown assaulted police constable 17205 Ganda S whilst on due execution of his lawful duty. On count two on the above date and place the accused person assaulted the said complainant in a manner thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
Assistant Superintendent of police Isatu Baba Musa lead Prosecution witness number four Sergeant 9527 Safie Conteh attached to the Criminal Investigation Department Cid Central Police Station said he recognized the complainant and accused person in the dock.
He recalled on the 29th May 2023 at the said office when the accused person was arrested and brought to the police station together with the complainant, by then the eyes of the complainant were swollen and surrounded with blood.
The matter was allocated to her for investigation, the witness said she prepared police medical request form for the complainant and the accused person was detained on the following day.
The complainant returned with the endorsed medical request form.
The medical request form was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records. After that he obtained statements from the complainant and his witnesses on the 31st May 2023 himself together with Sergeant 9823 cautioned and questioned the accused person in krio language which was recorded in English language.
The witness statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
On the same date, the accused person was charged with the offense he is standing trial on.
The charge statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
Cross examined by defense counsel W.C Oluba you did interview witness produced by your colleague officer, the witness said yes.
How many witnesses did he produce, the witness said three witnesses, who are they, the witness said the passenger, and the one that was in the scene of crime.
You didn’t go to the scene, the witness said the night operation went to the scene the accused person denied the allegation the witness said yes
The prosecution has closed their case the defence counsel said on the next adjourning date he will furnished the court Meanwhile Magistrate Bangura refused bail and adjourned the matter to the 4th December 2023 for further hearing.