By: Audrey Raymonda John
Alhaji Mohamed Kamara, Ex-Military personnel, made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court no.2 on November 21, 2024, for allegedly making inciting statements to undermine the peace and security of Sierra Leone.
Accused Kamara was arraigned before the court on a count charge of incitement contrary to law.
The indictment states that the accused, Kamara, on Saturday, 19th October 2024, in Freetown, made inciting statements with the intent to undermine the peace and security of Sierra Leone.
The indictment further accused Kamara, stating that the Maada Bio-led government had killed the majority of those who were arrested and detained at the Correctional Center in Freetown during the August 10, 2023 protest, and also, President Bio did not win the 24th June 2023 presidential election and whether he hands over power or not they will have to overthrow him.
After the charges were read and explained to the accused, he pleaded not guilty to the offense.
The police prosecutor, Detective Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, led in Prosecution witness number one Inspector Abubakar Kargbo attached at the Operations unit at the Criminal Investigation Department Cid headquarters Pademba Road Freetown he recognized the accused person in dock he recall on the 19th October 2024 the investigation department draw their attention to a video clip involving the accused making incitement which tendency to cause civil arrest the matter was assigned to him and Sergeant 8904 Solomon Amadu for investigation.
The witness said some military police officers escorted the accused to them for investigation. The witness said he and Sergeant Solomon Amadu contemporaneously cautioned and questioned the accused person in the Krio language, which was recorded in the English language after the statement was read over and explained to the accused person in the Krio language, which he admitted it to be true and correct by afflicting his right-hand thumbprint witness by Sergeant Solomon Amadu. He signed as the recorder the statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit A1-8.
The witness said he collected the mobile phones of the accused person and handed them over to the cyber unit for forensic examination. On the 21st of October 2024, he obtained a further voluntary caution statement from the accused person using the same procedure as the previous statement. The said statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit B1-8
On the 8th of November 2024, he changed the accused person with the offense he is standing trial on. He concluded that the charge statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit C1-3.
The accused person was not legally represented, and he cross-examined the witness
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to the 26th of November, 2024.