August 23, 2021
By Audrey John
The police officer who investigates the matter Sorie Kamara has tendered relevant document pertaining to the matter to back up the prosecution’s case.
The accused is before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No.1 for Preliminary Investigation on two count charges of unlawful custody contrary to section 3(A) of the prisons Act No. 22 of 1960 and unlawful possession of arms and ammunition contrary to section 19 (2)(c) of the Arms and Ammunitions Act of 1955 cap 234 of the Laws of Sierra Leone as repealed and replaced by section 1 of the Arms and Ammunitions Act No. 17 of 1974.
It was alleged on the charge sheet that on Monday 4th January 2021, at the OSD Headquarters, Bath Street, in Freetown, the accused Alpha Gobeh being a suspect under custody for the offense of Robbery with Aggravation at the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters did escape from lawful custody.
In count two, the police alleged that on the same date and place, the accused was found in possession of ten rounds of ammunitions without license.
Taking the witness stand, Detective Sergeant 8709 Ibrahim Sorie Kamara attached to the Investigation unit at the Criminal Investigation Department recognized the accused person.
He said on the 29th of April 2021 he was on duty at the investigation unit when a case, an enquiry file with the offense of escaping lawful custody was transferred from the major incident unit to the investigations unit.
He said the file contained a police report, an exhibit of ten lives of ammunition (cartigrages) which are handed over to the exhibit clerk for safe keeping.
He said having perused the file, detective police Constable 17240 Kadie Coba interviewed the accused persons and in conclusion, the statement was read and explained to him, who he admitted to be true and correct and signed with his right hand thumb print.
The police witness produced and tendered the statement of the accused as exhibit B one to ten.
Explaining further the witness said on the 26th June 2021, detective police Constable 19981 assisted him to charge the accused person with the offenses of escaping lawful custody and being in possession of ammunitions
Testing the witness in Cross examination by defense counsel WEC Elloba, the witness confirmed receiving a case and enquiry file from the majority incident unit for further investigation.
The witness said he did not have forensic evidence of the ammunition, but the accused made confessional statement that they were in his possession.
Having listening to defense counsel`s cross examination, Magistrate Sahr Kekura refused the accused persons bail and adjourned the matter to the 26th of August 2021 for the next witness to be docked.