November 11, 2021
By: Audrey John
The accused person, Musa Samura who was charged to court for conspiracy to commit felony and burglary and larceny has challenged the witness that the thumb print on the charge sheet is not his.
Musa Samura is before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court for Preliminary Investigation on both count charges levied against him by the police.
It was alleged on the charge sheet that on Tuesday 31st of August 2021, at the Presidential Lodge, Hill Station, and the accused conspired with other persons unknown to commit a crime to wit burglary and larceny.
On count two, it was alleged that on that same date and place, the accused with intent to steal broke and entered into state lodge and stole therein cooking condiments worth one million one hundred and thirty thousand leones (Le 1, 130, 000, 00).
Taking the witness stand to tender the charge sheet, detective police Constable 15213 UM Bangura attached at the Criminal Investigation Department recognized the accused in the dock. He said on the
2nd of September 2021, he was on duty when instructed to obtained statement from the accused.
He said at the same end of his statement, the accused signed by affixing his right hand thumb print.
Testing the evidence in cross examination, the accused who was unrepresented urged bitterly in the dock, the accused said if at all he stole anything as alleged, those items should be presented in court. He said the charge sheet which was about to be tender by the police witness is not his and that he is ready to challenge the thumb print on it.
He made the outburst just after he was asked by the Bench to cross examine the witness.
At that stage, lawyer Sengeh Marrah rise from the bar and applied for the court to order the correctional doctor to examine the status of the accused.
Having heard the application of lawyer Sengeh Marrah, magistrate Sahr Kekura ordered officers for the Correctional Center to take the accused to the Correctional Doctor in order for his status to be checked. He adjourned the matter to the 23rd of November 2021, for the report to be brought on the next date.