By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 43-year-old trader, Salmanta Sesay, appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on Monday, facing three charges: wounding with intent, wounding, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. These charges are in violation of Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Monday, June 9, 2025, at #15 Genet Lane, Kingtom, in the Western Area of Freetown, Salmanta Sesay allegedly wounded Esther Kamara with the intent to cause her grievous bodily harm.
The second and third charges allege that, on the same date and location, the defendant maliciously wounded and assaulted Esther Kamara, thereby causing her actual bodily harm.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendant, no plea was entered.
Sergeant 8811 Flow Wilson led the prosecution and called Fatmata Jusu, a businesswoman, as the second prosecution witness. Fatmata Jusu testified that she recognized Esther Kamara as her sister and the defendant, Salmanta Sesay, as her neighbor. She recalled that on June 9, 2025, while she was at home laundering clothes, she received a call from the defendant’s child informing her that a fight had occurred between the complainant and the defendant. Fatmata immediately rushed to the scene, where she found Esther Kamara on the ground, crying and bleeding from her foot. However, she did not see the defendant at the scene.
Fatmata used her iPhone to take photographs of the injury and then took Esther Kamara to the Adelaide Street Police Station to report the matter. The photographs were later printed and submitted as evidence to form part of the court records.
The witness was cross-examined by L. Ellis Esq.
Magistrate Fornah denied bail to the defendant and ordered that she be remanded at the Female Correctional Facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to October 14, 2025.