By: Audrey Raymonda John
Ishmail Nabieu, a mason, and Bala Marah, a carpenter, made their first court appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown. The two accused are facing a four-count charge including conspiracy to commit a felony, wounding with intent, malicious wounding, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.
According to the charge sheet, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at Black Tank, Adonkia, Goderich in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused conspired with unknown persons to commit wounding with intent.
Further charges state that on the same date and location, they allegedly wounded Baimaro Sesay with the intention of causing him grievous bodily harm. The remaining counts allege that the accused maliciously wounded and assaulted Sesay, thereby causing him actual bodily harm.
When the charges were read and explained, no plea was taken from the accused persons.
Prosecution witness number one, Baimaro Sesay a businessman was led in evidence by Assistant Commissioner of Police Joan M.S. Bull. Sesay testified that he recognized both accused on the day of the incident. He recalled that around 10:00 a.m. on April 16, 2025, he had gone to his cousin Abass Sesay’s shop at Adonkia, where he was asked to supervise a MoneyGram office. His cousin reportedly had possession of the property for several years.
Sesay said he encountered an individual named Sanjai, who warned him that the shop had been marked for destruction and that all zinc structures in the area would be burned, reportedly due to a court order. He alleged that during the confrontation, the first accused (Nabieu) struck him on his side with a stone and kicked him, while the second accused (Marah) used a stick to beat him. According to Sesay, the attackers said they had been “brought specifically for him” due to his perceived stubbornness.
Sesay further testified that another unidentified individual joined the attack wielding a machete. Although people were present at the scene, no one intervened, reportedly out of fear. He stated that he sustained serious injuries, including wounds to his left hand, and was eventually able to escape after a struggle.
Sesay fled to the Adonkia Police Station, where he filed a report and was issued a police medical request form. He later received treatment at Lumley Hospital. The medical request form was tendered in court for identification and marked as Exhibit Z.
During cross-examination by defense counsel Charles Abass Bangura Esq., an application for bail was made on behalf of both accused persons.
Magistrate Bangura, however, refused bail for the second accused (Marah) due to the severity of the charges, while continuing bail for the first accused (Nabieu). The matter was adjourned to May 15, 2025.