August 31, 2021
By: Audrey John
First accused in the ongoing arms and ammunitions matter, Nabieu Unisa which also involved other accused persons Raymond Bangura, and Hon Emmanuel Conteh on the 30th August,2021 appeared in court dressed in blue shirt and brown trousers walking alongside second accused Agnes Korto Reffle after fulfilling his bail conditions.
Taking the witness stand lead by State counsel Yusif Isaac Sesay, the third prosecution witness number two Mohamed Sannoh working at the National Revenue Authority, Customs services department revealed his occupation as the head of anti-smuggling unit attached to the baggage section.
He said one of his roles is to make sure containers are discharged for inspection and if those containers have any implications the owner will pay the difference, and said he recognized all three accused persons in the said matter.
He said on the 2nd of July 2021, he was on duty at the un stuffing site for inspection when one Foday Fofana called his attention to a gray pathfinder jeep parked nearby and told him that they have discovered arms and ammunitions in it.
The witness said he called his colleague Mohamed Kabba Massaquoi prosecution witness number on the phone concerning the issue.
He said before his colleague arrived he was shown a plastic bag contained items suspected to be arms and ammunitions.
The witness said PW1 and the police arrived at the scene and the car was drove by Victor Murana to a clear point for everyone to see.
He said PW1 advised them to move to his office with the items.
Explaining further, the third witness said upon arrival at PW1`s office, they counted the items in the presence of victor Murana, Isatu Kargbo, staff attached to PW1 office and other police officers.
He said while the counting was going on there was a knock at the door and someone answered I am honorable.
He said third accused Hon. Saidu Emmanuel Conteh entered and introduced himself as the honorable member of parliament of constituency 129. He said third accused informed PW1 that he is there in respect of a vehicle that was shipped to him which had issue with customs.
The witness said third accused displayed photo of a vehicle in his phone in front of all present in the office and when matched with the one on the phone of Gibrilla Kamara the police officer, they are same.
He said at that point PW1 showed the items that were discovered in the vehicle to third accused and he denied saying he is an honorable member and cannot bring such items into the country.
He said PW1 asked where did he ship the vehicle from and he responded from the United State of America.
In continuation of his testimony, the witness said whiles that conversation was going on the local unit command and the Assistant Inspector General of police east arrive at the scene.
He said in their presence, PW1 asked third accused who is the consignee and the honorable said one Nabieu Unisa Raymond Bangura.
Hon. Saidu Emmanuel Conteh was asked to contact Nabieu Unisa Raymond Bangura on his cell phone but the call did not go through, the witness said.
The witness further told the court that when third accused was asked about the agent he responded it was on Mr Carew.
The witness said Carew was called on the cell phone and during the conversation with PW1, he confirmed being the clearing agent.
He said at that point PW1 called the head of customs Mr. Kanneh and they move with the items to his office where PW1 narrated the incident and recounts the items which included one hundred live rounds bullets, twelve magazines and seven pistols. He said the commissioner questioned third accused if he is aware about the items, but he responded in the negative.
Testifying further, the third witness said third accused told the commissioner that he went to assist the owner for clearing because he has a duty free concession.
He said third accused made a phone call and within three minutes first and second accused Nabieu Unisa Raymond Bangura and Agness Korto Reffle surfaced at the commissioner’s office.
He said third accused identified first accused as the consignee and the one who does the shipment.
He said first accused confirmed he was the consignee and the person who shipped the vehicle and the suspected items.
The third witness said at that point the deputy commissioner of the anti- smuggling unit Brima Kemoh asked if first accused had a license for importation, he responded in the negative.
He said at that point, the AIG East told them to go with him to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters.
At the end of his testimony the matter was adjourned to Wednesday 1st September 2021 for cross examination