By: Audrey Raymonda John
The former Minister 2 of Finance, Dr.Patricia Laverley, was on Thursday 14th November, 2024, dragged to court by the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Farida Tunis, for allegedly assaulting her at State House.
The accused Laverley was standing trial before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court no.2 and was arraigned on two count charges of inflicting grievous bodily harm contrary to section 20 of the offense against the person’s act of 1861and assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to law.
The indictment states that the accused, Laverley, on 12 November 2024, at State House in Freetown, assaulted Nabella Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism, with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on her.
The indictment further stated that former Minister Laverley also assaulted Nabeela Farida Tunis in a manner thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.
After the charges were read and explained to the former Minister, she pleaded not guilty to the offense.
The state Prosecutor, Yusuf Isaac Sesay, requested an adjournment to gather his Witnesses and said he would proceed with the matter on the next adjourned dates.
Led defense counsel I. Yillah applied for bail on behalf of the accused by citing section 79(3)(4) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.
He said the offenses charged against the former Minister Laverley are bailable, adding that the accused was a public Officer who had held cabinet positions for four years.
He said she is a responsible citizen and not a flight risk, adding that she is the head of the African Development Bank in Tanzania. Prosecutor Yusuf Isaac Sesay opposed bail and referred to the affidavit he filed opposing bail.
He said the offenses were grievous, and the scene of the crime was at State House.
Magistrate Santigie Bangura, before granting bail, said he regards former Minister Laverley as working outside the jurisdiction of Sierra Leone and, in consideration of the application made on her behalf by her lawyer, granted her bail in the sum of one hundred thousand Leones with two sureties in like sum.
He said the sureties must be responsible citizens residing in Freetown and certified by the Freetown City Council.
Magistrate Santigie Bangura further stated that the sureties must make an undertaking to the court that they are going to ensure the appearance of the accused before the court and that the accused should not travel outside the country without express permission from the office of the Master and Register.
The bail he ordered should be approved by the Master and registered in the High Court. The matter comes up on the 20th of November, 2024, for a hearing.