BY: MOHAMED SAHR
In a high-stakes trial unfolding at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Freetown, Detective Inspector Tamba Kasigbama testified regarding the health condition of the accused, Koita Makalo, prior to the recording of his statement. State prosecutor Ahmed G. M. Bockarie led Kasigbama in his testimony, shedding light on events preceding the interrogation of Makalo.
According to Kasigbama’s account on December 4, 2023, Makalo was brought to the department by the operation team with a slight head injury, prompting the provision of first aid. Kasigbama, assigned to obtain Makalo’s statement for charges including treason and murder, highlighted Makalo’s claim of being stabbed, leading to the suspension of the statement due to his complaints.
Subsequently, on the evening of December 5, 2023, Kasigbama, alongside Inspector Harold Foday Bonda, resumed the statement-taking process, ensuring Makalo’s awareness of his right to legal representation. Despite this, Makalo opted to proceed without his lawyers and affixed his thumbprint at the conclusion of the statement.
The process continued intermittently, with interviews conducted on December 8 and December 10, 2023, before being suspended and resumed on December 26, 2023. However, Sigismund A. Conteh, representing Makalo, objected to the tendering of the statement, citing procedural concerns regarding the presence of the jury.
Responding to the objection, Justice Komba Kamanda ordered the exclusion of the jury, members of the public, and journalists from the courtroom, indicating a pivotal turn in the legal proceedings. The trial is slated to reconvene on Thursday, February 22, 2024.
The case has attracted significant attention due to its gravity and the contentious nature of the evidence being presented, further intensifying the scrutiny surrounding Makalo’s health condition and the legality of the interrogation process. As the trial progresses, stakeholders remain keenly observant, awaiting the next developments in this complex legal saga.
