By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-five-year-old businessman Ishmael Turay has been granted bail by Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, while three co-defendants were remanded at the Male Correctional Centre over allegations of causing grievous bodily harm.
Turay, 38-year-old bar attendant David Turay, 32-year-old electrician Ibrahim Paul Sangoh, and 32-year-old Mohamed Mohamed Kamara are facing three counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The charges are contrary to Sections 18, 20 and 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, respectively.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at No. 2 River Community, off Peninsular Road, Western Area, Freetown, the defendants allegedly unlawfully and maliciously caused grievous bodily harm to Joseph Kamara with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
Count two alleged that, on the same date and at the same location, the defendants unlawfully and maliciously wounded Joseph Kamara.
Count three further alleged that the defendants assaulted Kamara in a manner that occasioned him actual bodily harm.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendants, no plea was taken because the matter is at the committal proceedings stage.
The prosecution, represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police Juan M. S. Bull, requested a short adjournment to enable the prosecution to lead its witness.
Defence counsel A. O. Gbla renewed his previous bail application on behalf of all four defendants.
Magistrate Jah subsequently granted bail to the first defendant, Ishmael Turay, in the sum of Le50, 000, with two sureties in like sum.
The court ordered that the sureties must be Sierra Leonean residents within Freetown, must not be less than 40 years old, and must produce valid identification cards. The bail is to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.
The second, third and fourth defendants were remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to September 29, 2026.