October 26, 2021
By: Audrey John
Prosecution witness number six, the exhibit clerk, 1516 Abu Conteh has took the witness stand and tendered the pistols and accessories which have been in his custody, in respect of the Arms and Ammunitions case of Nabieu Unisa Raymond Bangura, Hon. Saidu Emmanuel Conteh and others.
Led by State counsel YI Sesay, the exhibit clerk attached to the crime writer/ exhibit office at the Criminal Investigation Department said he is responsible to ensure the safe keeping of all exhibits brought to the police relating to cases that have been reported and investigated at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Head Quarter and to produce the same in court when required to do so.
He said on the 12th of July 2021 he was on duty when detective police Constable 9268 Collin JJ attached at the major incident unit handed over to him one black SAR 9mm pistol, two Lugar 9mm pistols, four JA 9mm pistols, twelve empty Magazines, one hundred live rounds Ammunitions and accessories in respect of the matter.
He said he took possession of them and registered them in the court register book as against serial number 135/2021. He said since then they have been in his custody.
The said exhibits are produced and tendered in court.
The accessories the exhibit clerk made mention of was about to be tendered when defense counsel for the first and second accused JM Jengo raised an objection on the grounds that they are not stated on the charge sheet.
Magistrate Sahr Kekura in response said he recalled when a witness Testifies about the accessories. He instructed defense counsel to come up with his argument when addressing the court.
In that light, JM Jengo sought the Bench leave for lead counsel ET Koroma to come for cross examination.
Few minutes later, defense counsel JM Jengo informed the court that they have no question for the witness.
Following the Bench warrant that was slammed on Hon. Saidu Emmanuel Conteh who was absent on the last seating, magistrate Sahr Kekura rescinded the warrant and adjourned the matter to Monday 1st of November 2021 for the state to dock the seventh witness.