By: Audrey Raymonda John
Foday Sheriff, a 24-year-old barber, has been remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown after appearing before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of the Pademba Road Court No. 2, on four count charges, including Causing Grievous Bodily Harm, Wounding with Intent, and Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm.
The charges are brought under Sections 18, 20, and 47 of the *Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.
According to the police charge sheet, the accused allegedly committed the offence on Wednesday, 23rd April 2025, at No. 57 Lumley Road, Wilberforce, in the Western Area of Freetown. He is accused of intentionally causing grievous bodily harm to Ibrahim Sorie Kamara.
Count 1: Causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Counts 2 and 3: Maliciously wounding the victim.
Count 4: Assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
When the charges were read and explained, the accused did not enter a plea.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Barber Musa led Prosecution Witness No. 3, Detective Inspector Alusine Edward Conteh, attached to the Congo Cross Police Station. He testified that on 24th April 2025, the complainant reported a case of grievous bodily harm. The case was assigned to him for investigation.
Inspector Conteh issued a medical request form for treatment and examination at Connaught Hospital. On 27th April 2025, the complainant returned with the completed form and an X-ray report, which were submitted in court as Exhibit A1-3.
The prosecution also tendered witness statements from Mamisa Sheriff and Mariama Sheriff, marked Exhibits B1-7, C1-6, and D1-4.
Further, on 2nd and 4th May 2025, Conteh, along with Detective Sergeant 9520 Koroma A., obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused in Krio, translated and recorded in English. The accused admitted to the statement’s accuracy by affixing his right thumbprint, witnessed by Sgt. Koroma, and the statement was submitted as Exhibit E1-11.
On 4th May 2025, the accused was officially charged and again confirmed the charges by thumbprint. The charge statement was admitted as Exhibit F1-3.
Defense counsel L.S. Juldeh applied for bail, arguing that the accused is a permanent resident with a fixed address and reliable sureties. He cited Section 79(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965, assuring the court that the accused poses no flight risk and would not interfere with prosecution witnesses.
However, Magistrate Fornah denied bail, citing the serious nature of the offences, and ordered that the accused be remanded.
The matter was adjourned to 26th June 2025 for continuation of the trial.