By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Sahr Keikura of Ross Road Court No. 1 yesterday remanded a motorist, Asina Mansaray who was arrested 28 November 2022 by Detective Sergeant Bindi T.M at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown for allegedly robbing Binta Bah and Isatu Sow of their Tecno cammon seventeen (17) and nineteen (19) mobile phones, and other valuable properties totaling eight thousand, five hundred leones (NLe8, 500). The incident occurred on 19 November 2022 at Old Railway Line, Deep Eye Water outskirts of Freetown.
The accused appeared before the court on five counts charge of conspiracy to commit a felony, two robbery with aggravations and two assaults occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
It was alleged by the Inspector General Police (IGP) that Asina Mansaray, on 19 November 2022 at the aforesaid place outskirts of Freetown robbed Isatu Sow and Binta Bah of their mobile phones totaling eight thousand, five hundred leones (NLe8,500).
The police say the accused on same date and place outside Freetown, assaulted and wounded the complainants Isatu Sow and Binta Bah in manner thereby causing them grievous bodily harm.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura formal witness Detective Sergeant 10476 Bindi T.M attached to the Anti-Robbery Unit at the Ross Road Police Station, Habour Division in Freetown told the court that he recognized the accused and could recall the day in question. Mr Bindi continued on that day, he was on duty at the aforesaid unit at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the said division, when a case and inquiry file including the complainants and the accused from Deep Eye Water Police Station was brought to the said unit for further investigations.
He disclosed that the matter was assigned to him for investigations, adding that the case file contained the complainant’s and witnesses’ statements which were produced and tendered to form part of the court’s records including the accused’s voluntary caution statement. The accused’s voluntary caution statement was also produced and tendered marked exhibit B1-8.
On 23 November 2022 he, Detective Inspector Conteh H and Detective Police Constable (DPC) 14216 Sesay O.K charged the accused with conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery with aggravation and two assaults occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to the laws Of Sierra Leone.
During cross examination by Defence Counsel M.A Kamara he asked the witness whether he visited the crime scene to which he responded in the negative.
Lawyer Kamara asked the witness what he relied on when he charged the accused with the abovementioned offences. Responding, Mr Bindi said he relied on the complainants’ statement and charged the accused with the aforesaid offences.
Mr Kamara put it to him that during the course of his investigation the accused disclosed to him that he was a bike rider (motorist), to which he answered in the affirmative.
He further put it to him that during his investigations the accused told him that the complainants were his passengers, to which he answered in the affirmative.
Responding, Magistrate denied the accused bail and remanded him at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 7th March 2023.