By: Audrey Raymonda John
57yrs-old Augustine Ansumana Garmoh lecturer at the university of Sierra Leone Fourah Bay College has made several appearances before magistrate Mark Ngegba on the Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown for an allegation of domestic violence.
The accused Augustine Ansumana Garmoh was in court for domestic violence contrary to section 2(1) of the domestic violence No.20 of 2007.
According to the police file, it was alleged that the accused on a date between 1st Jan 2016 and Wednesday 19th January 2022 at upper Allen town Freetown psychologically abused Hassantu Garmoh with whom you are in a domestic relationship.
The abstract report indicates that the complainant was psychologically and emotionally abused by the accused.
The prosecution witness a police officer Unisa Sesay Detectives Sergeant 10284 attached at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters F.S.U. He said he knew the complainant and recognized the accused and recalled on 1st January 2016 and 19th January 2022.
On the 1st of April 2022, a case of an inquiry file of domestic violence was handed over to him for continuing the investigation.
He said an instruction was given to him to invite the accused person and on the said date the accused honor the invitation; he obtained a voluntary caution statement from him and it was witnessed by DPC John Momoh Conteh. The caution statement was tender in court to form part of court records.
The witness stated that he charged the accused with the offence of domestic violence causing physiological abuse, he stated.
After his testimony the witness intimated to the bench that his lawyer was not present in court to cross-examine the witness, therefore Magistrate Ngegba adjourned the matter to the 9th of February 2023.