By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-four-year-old barber Alex Komba Gbondo has been denied bail by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 in Freetown after appearing before the court on three charges, including wounding with intent.
The accused made his first appearance on Monday, November 2, 2026, on charges of wounding with intent, contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861; wounding, contrary to Section 20 of the same Act; and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 47 of the Act.
According to the particulars of the offence, the accused allegedly wounded Alhassan Kamara with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Signal Hill Road, Freetown, in the Western Area of Sierra Leone.
The prosecution was led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Cunteh, while D.M. Bangura represented the accused.
The matter proceeded with the testimony of the first prosecution witness, Detective Sergeant Michael A. Conteh, attached to the Congo Cross Police Station in Freetown.
Testifying before the court, Conteh said that on September 22, 2026, while on duty, the complainant, Alhassan Kamara, reported an assault case against the accused.
He explained that he subsequently issued the complainant a police medical request form to seek medical attention at Connaught Hospital. The complainant later returned with an endorsed medical report, which was tendered and admitted in evidence as Exhibit A.
The witness further told the court that he obtained a statement from the complainant, which was also tendered and admitted in evidence as Exhibits B1 to B4.
Conteh said he later arrested the accused and recovered a pair of scissors with a yellow handle and a stone, which were allegedly connected to the incident. He explained that the items were handed over to the exhibit officer, Police Constable 15221 Turay.
He further testified that he and Detective Police Constable 17726 Conteh obtained a caution statement from the accused. According to the witness, the accused was cautioned and questioned in Krio, while his responses were recorded in English.
Conteh said the statement was subsequently read and interpreted to the accused in Krio. He added that the accused confirmed its contents to be true and correct by affixing his right thumbprint in the presence of the other police officer. The statement was subsequently tendered in court as an exhibit.
During cross-examination by defence counsel D.M. Bangura, the witness confirmed that his duties included investigating cases and charging suspects to court.
He also confirmed that the accused was interviewed during the investigation and that the complainant had alleged that the accused attacked and beat him, leaving scratches on his body.
The witness said he personally observed scratches or bruises on the complainant’s body, although they had healed by the time he examined him.
When questioned about whether he had issued the accused a police medical request form, Conteh admitted that he neither issued one nor asked the accused to obtain a medical report.
He further confirmed that the accused had told him that he was struck with a board and that the complainant had threatened him during the investigation.
The witness also disclosed that the complainant had mentioned two individuals, identified as Paul and Pablo, as witnesses to the incident, but he was unable to locate them. Another person was also mentioned as having been present during the incident.
Conteh admitted that the incident revolved around a debt of NLe20 and that the issue of a missing mobile phone also arose during the investigation.
He further acknowledged that he did not see the alleged board and did not obtain statements from any other witnesses. However, he maintained that his investigation was not one-sided.
Following the cross-examination, defence counsel D.M. Bangura applied for bail on behalf of the accused pursuant to Section 76(1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2024.
Counsel submitted that the accused was an ordinary resident within the jurisdiction of the court and had strong community ties. He assured the court that, if granted bail, the accused would not interfere with prosecution witnesses and would make himself available for all subsequent court appearances.
However, Magistrate Fornah refused the bail application, citing the seriousness of the offences against the accused.
The matter was adjourned to November 9, 2026, for further proceedings.