December 1, 2021
By: Audrey John
Seventh Prosecution witness (PW7) on the alleged Arms and Ammunitions case involving Nabieu Unisa Raymond Bangura, Hon Saidu Emmanuel Conteh and another has explained steps he took to access relevant materials from the mobile phones of the accused persons.
Led in his examination in chief by State counsel, Y.I Sesay, detective police Constable 4013 Jusu M attached to the Cyber Crime Syndicate of the Scientific Support Department at the Criminal Investigation Department recognized the accused persons.
He said on the 3rd of July 2021, he received a correspondent from detective Inspector D.A Munu from the major incident unit and four mobile phones for forensic analysis and report.
He produced the phone in court for identification.
Explaining further, the police witness said upon receiving the phones, he asked the accused to supply their password which they do voluntarily. “I connect the phones to the Cyber lab wireless fidelity for them to be activated for analysis,” he stated.
The witness said he commands *#06# and fifteen number digit number appeared which indicates the international mobile equipment numbers.
He said he also used software called IME number called look up which help to ascertain whether the names inscribed in the phone are their real name. He said he did the command *98# press enter to get the subscriber identification module numbers on the sim card.
“My Lord I examined the social media activities on the said mobile phones with particular reference to the WhatsApp conversations”, he stated.
Narrating further, the witness told the court that he screen shots relevant materials obtained from all mobile phone and the materials were transferred to the office dell computer through a universal serial cord. He said he also used license software called doctor phone which helped him to get deleted materials on the phones.
The witness said having got the screen shot materials; he printed them in colored and in conclusion reduced all his finds to report signed and dated 19th July 2021.
He produced and tendered colored copies screen shot relevant materials obtained from the mobile phones and report to form part of the prosecution’s case.
Testing the evidence in cross examination by defense counsel for first and second accused Lawyer Emmanuel Teddy Koroma, the witness confirmed signing the report on the 19th of July 2021. He said from his report there are certain local and International numbers on the phone of first accused person. The witness said he never confronted the first and second accused on his findings because he is not the investigator.
Taking a look at his report on the column exhibit for examination, seven mobile phones are stated on it but he produce four in respect of the case of all three accused persons in the dock.
Defense counsel Lansana Dumbuya cross examined the witness on behalf of third accused and in a question put to him, he responded that he took oath on the Holy Quran and was serious about it.
He said he was absolutely part of the investigation, but can’t tell as to whether he makes any mistake on the said report.
Looking at his report under observation and findings of the third accused number recorded as 23276611194 installed in the Series phone was not that of the accused.
He said the phone that belongs to third accused is an IPhone XR. In another question directed to the witness, he responded that third accused never communicate to first accused.
At the end of cross examination, Magistrate Sahr Kekura adjourned the matter to Friday 3rd of December 2021 for the next witness to be heard.