By: Audrey Raymonda John
After several adjournment, the first subpoena witness of the the Freetown City Council mayor, Military Police of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), Victor Idrissa Swaray on Wednesday, 1st March, 2023 narrated before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.1 what transpired between the Mayor and the two Police officers on the 17th September, 2022 at the airport Police Division at Lungi.
Led in evidence by Lead Defense Counsel Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara Esq., First Prosecution witness Victor Idrissa Swaray told the court that he was attached to the Lungi airport.
He said he was on duty at the four yard gate arrival section with his colleague when he was informed that the Freetown Mayor’s bag has fall on the ground, adding that his boss immediately instructed him to collect it and handed over to her. He said that he followed the Mayor to the airport Police Division, but the accused refused to take the bag from him, while he continues to hold the bag.
The witness informed the court that when he was standing at the entrance of Police division, a female Police asked; who was the accused? he replied her that the accused was the Mayor of Freetown.
The witness added that he was not allowed to go beyond the counter of the police division, adding that the accused was then emotional and upon that, she made a video call and moved outside. He said that he continues to follow her by trying to hand over the bag to her.
The witness alluded that whilst he was standing beyond the counter for less than 30minutes, there was quarrelling at the police division and he could not tell if the Mayor was moving up and down at the division at that moment.
Rounding his testimony, the witness said it was later the Mayor took the bag from him at the Departure’s room of the airport, and by replied, she thanked him and promise to call him when she returned, noting that he did not made statement for this matter.
Under cross examination by State Counsel Yusif Isaac Sesay, subpoena witness informed the court that he has been attached to the airport for about 3 years and he had work under the command ship of the accused from 2019-2020.
He confirmed that the accused went at the said division very emotional (angry).
He furthered that the accused made a video call when she entered the Police division.
Swaray clarified that he was not the one who showed the accused the location of the police division
”Because I did not concentrate on the actions of the accused, anything that happened at the police division concerning her, I cannot tell” Subpoena witness noted.
After cross examination, Lead Defense Counsel JFK informed the Bench that the other subpoena witness who is the Minister of Local Government, Tamba Lamins has failed to appear in court after three occasions, he therefore sought from the Bench to make his inherent power for him to honour the invitation of court.
He said there are two more witnesses they intends to take, and the matter was adjourned to Tuesday 7th March, 2023.