By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 51-year-old businesswoman and her two daughters have been granted bail by Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 after they were arraigned on three counts, including alleged wounding, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and public insult and provocation.
The accused are 51-year-old Emile Gbaow, a businesswoman; 20-year-old Esther Tarawally, a student; and 18-year-old Joyah Tarawally, also a student.
They are charged with Wounding, contrary to Section 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act, 1861; Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, contrary to Section 47 of the same Act; and Public Insult and Provocation, contrary to Section 3(1) of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965.
According to the particulars of the first count, on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, at Berry Street in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused persons allegedly maliciously wounded Isatu Timbo.
The second count alleged that on the same date and at the same location, the three accused assaulted Timbo in a manner that occasioned her actual bodily harm.
The third count alleged that on the same date and at the same location, the accused persons, in the view of the public and in the presence of Timbo, allegedly used insulting words against her in a manner likely to provoke her to commit a breach of the peace.
When the charges were read and explained to them, all three accused pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution, led by DPC Brima Kargbo, requested a short adjournment to allow copies of the case and inquiry files to be made available to the defence.
Defence counsel A.R. Gbla Esq. applied for bail on behalf of all three accused, arguing that they are Sierra Leonean citizens resident within the jurisdiction and would not interfere with prosecution witnesses.
Counsel made the application pursuant to Section 76(1) (c) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024.
Magistrate Jah subsequently granted bail to each of the accused in the sum of Le20, 000, with one surety in like sum for each accused.
The court ordered that each surety must be a Sierra Leonean resident within the Freetown jurisdiction and produce a valid identification card for verification. The bail is to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to 5 October 2026.