By: Audrey Raymonda John
Alpha Sheriff Alias APC Sheriff, Alhassan Kamara, Alhaji Saidu Fofanah, Sorie Sillah, Abdul Karim Mans and four others were denied bail by Magistrate Mark Ngegba presiding at Pademba Road Court No. 1 for possession of small arms.
The accused persons were standing trial on 4 counts of operating private security services without license, possession of small arms without license, having control of small arms without license, and unlawful concealment of arms without license.
It was alleged that on June 7, 2023, at Kebbie Town in Bo, the accused persons were found operating a private security company by the name of Sam-Coco without valid license.
It was also alleged that Alpha Sheriff alias APC Sheriff on the same date and place in Bo was found in possession of one Grey and Black Taurus Armas Revolver pistol with serial number ACB 569232 (856), without license.
Police further alleged that the 1st accused on the above date and place was unlawfully found concealing one Grey and Black Taurus.
Testifying in court, Second prosecution witness, Sergeant Abdul Francis Molu attached to Operations Department at Bo Regional police division said he recognized the accused persons.
He said on the 7th June 2023 he was on duty at the said station when he received a phone call from AIG Brima Kanneh informing him to follow a vehicle that bulldoze the Kebbie check point in Bo.
He said after the information, he and other OSD officers went in search of the said vehicle that bulldoze the check point, adding that while going, they saw the vehicle that was describe to them by the commanding officer attached to the Kebbie check point.
He further explained that upon arrival at the scene, they saw the said vehicle and they asked for the owner of the vehicle, adding that they told him that it belongs to the 1st accused (Alpha Sheriff) and they also asked the 1st accused why he bulldoze the check point, but he refuse to answer.
He stated that after the interrogation of the 1st accused, they conducted a search where they found black jacket, white pistol, military boot and other items in possession of the 1st accused, he said they later took the accused persons together with the items to the Criminal Investigations Department at Bo police Division for further investigations.
During cross examination by defense counsel, Joseph F. Kamara on behalf of all the accused persons, the witness said he has been a police officer for over 19 years and he was the one that found the pistol on the 1st accused.
When he was asked by the defense counsel, if that day was the first time for him to see the said pistol, he answers in the affirmative.
After the cross examination, defense counsel renewed his application for bail on behalf of the accused persons, however, Magistrate Ngegba refused them bail and remanded to the Male Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter will come up today 7th August 2023.