By: Audrey Raymonda John
Twenty-nine-year-old Musa Dumbuya, a kekeh rider, has been committed to the High Court by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of the Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on three counts: wounding with intent contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861; wounding contrary to Section 20 of the same Act; and assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to Section 47 of the Act.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Thursday, 15 January 2026, at Genet Lane, Kingtom Bomeh, in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused allegedly wounded Ibrahim David Kamara, popularly known as “Birthday Boy.”
Counts two and three further stated that on the same date and place, the accused maliciously wounded and assaulted the complainant in a manner that occasioned him actual bodily harm.
Detective Police Constable (DPC) 18235 Kabie K. Thoronka led the prosecution. Prosecution witness number two, DPC 17291 Richard Boima Kallon, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters at Pademba Road, testified that he recognized both the accused and the complainant.
He recalled that on 15 January 2026, while on duty at the CID headquarters, both the complainant and the accused were brought to the station. He said the complainant was bleeding from his back and hand. As a result, he issued a police medical request form for treatment and examination at Connaught Hospital.
DPC Kallon further testified that the complainant later returned with an endorsed medical report, and photographs of his injuries were taken at the station. The medical report and photographs were produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
He also told the court that on the same date, together with DPC 22257 Sannoh A.J., he obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused in Krio, which was recorded in English. At the conclusion of the statement, it was read over and explained to the accused in Krio, and he admitted it to be true and correct by affixing his right-hand thumbprint. The statement was witnessed by the investigator, who signed as the recorder.
On 24 January 2026, DPC Kallon said he and DPC 19789 Konduror M.T. charged the accused using the same procedure as the voluntary caution statement. Both the caution and charged statements were produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
The prosecution subsequently closed its case, and the file was withdrawn for ruling.
In his ruling, Magistrate Fornah stated that having carefully perused the entire evidence before the court, including the exhibits tendered, the statements of the complainant and witnesses, and the voluntary caution statement of the accused, he was satisfied that the prosecution had adduced sufficient evidence linking the accused to the offences charged.
He therefore committed the matter to the High Court for trial pursuant to Section 116(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 2024. The accused was granted bail in the sum of three hundred thousand leones (Le 300,000) with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a senior, responsible citizen residing in Freetown, with a fixed address, gainful employment, and valid proof of identity showing a Freetown address. Bail is to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.