By: Audrey Raymonda John
Five individuals Albert Sheriff Soloku, a 43-year-old teacher; Today Turay, a 33-year-old businessman; Musa Kamara, a 32-year-old unemployed man; Augustine Rashid Kelfal Josiah, a 45-year-old Human Resource Coordinator; and Kadiatu Kamara, a 44-year-old unemployed woman—were once again arraigned before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 on one count of Proposing to Commit Murder, contrary to Section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.
According to the police charge sheet, the accused allegedly proposed to murder Musayaroh Barrie on Friday, 18th April 2025, in Freetown, Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone.
When the charge was read and explained in court, no plea was taken from the accused persons.
Prosecution witness number two, Detective Police Constable (DPC) 17171 Alie Kamara, attached to the Cyber Crime Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters on Pademba Road, testified that he recognized all the accused persons in the dock, as well as the complainant in the matter.
He recalled that on 21st April 2025, while on duty, a case of Conspiracy was assigned to him by his line manager, Inspector P.A. Moseray, for investigation. On the same day, he obtained a statement from the complainant, who also handed over an audio recording as evidence.
DPC Kamara said he then forwarded the audio recording to the Officer-in-Charge of the Cyber Crime Laboratory, Inspector Mohamed Jusu, for processing.
On 22nd April 2025, DPC Kamara, Inspector Moseray, and the complainant travelled to Lungi with endorsed arrest warrants. Upon arrival, they arrested all five accused persons separately at their respective residences. The endorsed warrants of arrest, which have remained in police custody, were produced and tendered in court as evidence and marked as Exhibits D1–D4.
The officers returned to Freetown with the accused and, on the same day, obtained voluntary caution statements from each individual in the presence of their respective legal representatives. DPC Kamara explained that the accused were cautioned and questioned in Krio. Their responses were translated and recorded in English. Each statement was read back, explained to the accused, and voluntarily confirmed by them with a right-hand thumbprint. These statements were witnessed and signed by the investigators and were also tendered in court as part of the official record.
On 30th April 2025, the case file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice. On 12th May 2025, the DPP’s response was received, and on that same day, DPC Kamara and Inspector Moseray obtained formal charge statements from the accused, following the same procedure used for the caution statements. These charge statements were also tendered in court.
During the hearing, the defense counsel, Madieu Sesay Esq., cross-examined the witness.
Magistrate Fornah, citing the seriousness of the offence, denied bail to the accused. The matter was adjourned to 24th June 2025.