By: Audrey John
22 years old Safiatu Sesay made another appearance before Magistrate Mark Neagba who presides over at the Pademba Road court No. 1 in Freetown, on Monday 9th October 2023, remanded Safiatu Sesay after she was arraigned before him on alleged cybercrime.
Magistrate Neagba remarked in open court that cybercrime-related offences should not be treated with levity.
According to the information before the Court, the accused person, in Freetown, between the 4th of June and 3rd August, 2023, did send grossly offensive through social media via Facebook with account name ‘Sia Rose’ to Major Amadu Ahmed Kargbo.
The accused is faced with one count charge of cyber bullying contrary to Section 44 (2) (b) of the Cyber Crime Act 2021.
Inspector Sellu Tap led second Prosecution witness (PW2) Dpc 13164 Sheku Turay attached at the Criminal Investigation Department Lumley division.
He said recognized the accused person as well as the complainant on the 6th August 2023 whilst on duty at the said station an alleged case of cyber bullying and stacking upon the information he obtained statements from the complainant which the complainant show him an audio messages containing insult and threatening remarks.
PW2 continued that after the information received he invited the accused person through telephone conversation and the accused person came to the said police station; himself and Inspector Kamara M.S obtained voluntary caution statement from the accused person in krio language which was recorded in English language at the conclusion of the statement the accused person read it and admitted it to be true and correct by afflicting her right hand thumbprint the voluntary caution and was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
Counsel representing the accused person E.T Enoh objected to the tendering of the statement.
Saying that alterations in the Act of the document against which they cannot find any signatures either the recorder or the one that is alleged that made the statement. The objection was overrule by the magistrate while the witness continued his testimony that on the same date he was instructed by DSP Lavalie to take the accused person together with the case and inquiry files and exhibit to the Criminal Investigation Department CID headquarters Pademba Road Freetown after the submission on the 30th August 2023.
PW2 said he was sent by his supervisor to report at the CID headquarters Pademba Road Freetown to obtained charge statement from the accused person the witness said on the above date further voluntary caution statement was handed over to him the said voluntary caution statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records on the 30th August 2023; himself and Inspector M.S Kamara obtained charge statement from the accused person with the offence she is standing trials on the charge statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
Cross examination by defense counsel E.T Ehoh.
He asked the witness whether he was working for the complainant the witness said he was working for both, and many other questions followed after.
Magistrate Ngegba adjourned the matter to the 18th October 2023.