January 27, 2022
By Audrey John
Septimus Thompson, Moses Thompson and three others made another appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No.2 on five Count charges to wit threatening to kill contrary to section 6 of the offences against the persons Act 1816, Wounding with intent contrary to section 18 of the offences against the person Act 1861, Assault contrary to section 19 CAP 37 of the Laws of Sierra Leone 1960, Larceny contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916 and Trespass contrary to section 15 (1) (a) of the Public Order Act No.46 of 1965.
According to the particulars of offence on diverse dates between the 16th day of November 2021 to the 15th day of January 2022 at Kent Junction Waterloo the western area in Freetown threatening to kill the complainant Sorie Turay and Abeideen Sesay.
On count two at the same place and date wounded the said complainant with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.
On count three the accused persons assaulted the said complainant, and on count four did steal electricity panels valued at 5,000 United States dollars equivalent to fifty seven million Leones(57,000,000), one Leyland generator valued at 35,000 United States dollars equivalent to four hundred and two million five hundred thousand Leones(402,000,000) one Kye Japan Jew crusher valued at 45,000 United States dollars equivalent to five hundred and seventeen million five hundred and eighty thousand Leones all to the total valued of 85,000 United States dollars equivalent to nine hundred and seventy seven million five hundred thousand Leones property of Home Building Plus Limited and Aberdeen Sesay herein.
On count five the accused persons unlawfully entered into the compound of the complainants Home building plus Limited and Aberdeen Sesay.
The document given to the witness from the Ministry of Lands was tendered in court
During cross examination by defense counsel A.D Bangura he posed his questions to the witness.
What was the duration of that list during 2006 the witness said it exceeds ten years.
Since 2006 how many times did you renewed your licenses counsel representing the complainant Musa Pious Sesay senior objected to the question.
The lawyer representing the accused persons posed another question to the witness, early on your testimony to this court you interposed about the Ministry of Lands the witness said the said Ministry gave him grant to the land how did the bids of forestry gave to you Explain the witness said It’s involved different components, like Mines and many more. The state has procedure before giving a state Land to an individual.
The witness was asked for the payments receipt that was given to him by the government he said on the next adjourning date he will present it in court
Led in evidence by Lawyer Musa Pious Sesay
Prosecution witness number two Sorie Turay said he recognized all the accused persons at Home building plus Limited and he knows the said company as a quarry and he is the Caretaker of the said land and he recognized the complainant as managing director at the said company.
He recalled on the 16th November 2021and 15 January 2022 the witness said the complainant went with investors at the said Land, after few minutes he saw all the accused persons asking them what are they doing at the Quarry, the second accused person told him that the first accused told them not to be at the said Land and he responded to him that since 2006 we have been in this land.
Why are you asking me such questions because you very well know that this Quarry belongs to Home building plus Limited.
The witness said he saw the third accused person coming with people at the Quarry and he said the first accused person told them that at any time they saw him at land, let him don’t hesitate to bit him.
The accused person started throwing missiles on him he tried to seek rescue the accused person beat him and he received several pains and he told the complainant that let go and make the report at the police station.
The police issued police medical form to him, he was about to act the complainant informed him that the Fourth defendant has pleaded with him not to take action against them, the witness said he was afraid to be at the said Land because of the accused persons so he always came to secure the land at night.
The witness said late in the evening he saw the second and third accused persons with a truck and he returned to his apartment before he was treated by the accused persons in the morning hours he went to the Quarry he didn’t find, the solar panels, Generator and other items and he moved to the police station and made his statement about the missing items.
Cross examination by defense counsel A.D Bangura, where were you when the complainant was testifying the witness said I was outside how long have you been there as a caretaker the witness said since 2006.
You said you’re constant at night shift what are you doing there on the 16th January 2022 the witness said the complainant told him that he will be coming with investors.
At what time did the accused persons entered the land the witness said he cannot recall because the accused person was chasing him.
Counsel representing the accused person A.D Bangura applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused persons pursuant to section 79 2and 3 of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965
That the accused persons are Sierra Leoneans, resident within this jurisdiction they have reliable sureties who are willing and ready to enter into recognizance on their behalf and they will not interfere with prosecution witness or witnesses nor will they jumped bail
However Magistrate Ngegba granted all accused persons bail in the sum of five hundred million Leones with one surety each all of the sureties must have properties and they were restrained them from entering the said Land and must have house that valued at three hundred and fifty million Leones.
All sureties must produce utility bills all sureties must be gainfully employed bail to be approved by the Master and Registrar.
The Matter was adjourned to the 9th January 2022.