By: Audrey Raymonda John
Lt Col Foday K Sannoh on Monday 28th August 2023, testified before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No1 against five ex-military officers that were brought to court for operating a private security company.
The accused persons Rtd Captain Milton Sam Bangura, Morlai Bai Shebura Kamara, Rtd Major Alimamy O Kamara, Saccoh Kamara and Rtd Major Mathew Sorie Kamara were drag to court on two counts charges of conspiracy contrary to law and operating a private security service without valid license contrary to section 31(8) of the national security and central Intelligence Act 2023, Act No 2 of 2023.
According to count one, the accused on Wednesday 7th June 2023, at the Freetown Ferry Terminal Kissy in the Western Area conspired together with other person’s unknown to commit to crime to wit operating a private security service without valid license. Whiles Count 2 added that the accused on the same date and place were found operating a private security service by the name of ‘Expandable’ without valid license.
The witness led in evidence by Chief Superintendent of police Juan M S Bull said he is the Commandant Operation Officer for Western Area security.
He said he recognize only the first and second accused persons as his former colleagues and further recalled 7th June 2023.
On that date, he said he got an instruction from his superior to go to Kissy terminal in respect of the accused persons, adding that on his arrival, he met the accused persons in the hand of the police.
As per MAC P order, the witness said he escorted the accused persons to CID HQ for further investigation.
During cross examination by Lawyer Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, the witness revealed that, the first accused was in a military camouflage when he was arrested and that he knows them as colleagues.
In further cross examination, he was asked whether he is aware of an Intelligent in respect of the accused persons, in reply he said they should relay that question to his chain of command. The witness was described as a hostile witness by defense counsel, noting that he was not answering question posed at him.
Lawyer Joseph Fizgerald Kamara informed the court that the accused persons have been in custody for 50 days without bail.
Defenses make an application for an in-camera seating to further cross examined the witness on the grounds that the witness is withholding certain information that is germane to their defense.
He also stated that all what the witness relied on was faulty intelligence that he used against the accused persons jeopardizing their liberty.
Magistrate Ngegba in his ruling upon the application made by the defense said he is not in the capacity to know about any intelligence the witness is holding so therefore denied the application for an in-camera seating with the witness.
Lawyer Kamara said he cannot continue the cross examination due to the decision of the court to overruled their application for an in-camera seating.
Lawyer Joseph Fizgerald Kamara also renewed his application for bail on behalf of the accused persons.
Magistrate Ngegba refused bail and remanded the accused persons in prison whiles the matter was adjourned to the Tuesday 5th September 2023.
Chief Superintendent of police Juan M S Bull is prosecuting the matter in court.