By: Audrey Raymonda John
Eleven people have been remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown after appearing before Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 on allegations of riotous conduct, throwing missiles and disorderly behaviour at Kroo Town Road.
The accused persons are Foday Kargbo, Daniel Morrah, Alusine Bah, Ibrahim Bangura, Ibrahim Mansaray, Mohamed Sesay, Musa Kamara, Byron Browne, Mohamed Sesay, Patrick Swarray and Bannister Samba.
They are facing four counts: carrying an offensive weapon without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, contrary to Section 16(1) of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965; throwing missiles, contrary to Section 6 of the same Act; riotous conduct, contrary to Section 12(1) of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965, as repealed and replaced by Act No. 15 of 1973; and disorderly behaviour, contrary to Section 12 of the Act, as amended by Section 15 of Act No. 2 of 1973.
According to the particulars of the offences, on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Kroo Town Road and its surrounding areas in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused persons allegedly carried offensive weapons in a public place.
Count Two alleged that on the same date and at the same location, the accused persons allegedly threw missiles at combined operational police personnel.
Count Three further alleged that the accused persons behaved in a riotous manner, while Count Four alleged that they behaved in a disorderly manner.
When the charges were read and explained to them, all 11 accused persons pleaded not guilty.
During the proceedings, counsel for the tenth defendant, I.F. Sawaneh Esq., submitted that his client was 13 years old and therefore below the age of criminal responsibility. He urged the court to discharge the defendant.
The prosecution opposed the submission, arguing that there was nothing before the court to support the defence counsel’s claim.
In his ruling, Magistrate Jah said he had carefully considered the submissions of both the defence and the prosecution. He ruled that there was nothing before the court to support the defence counsel’s submission and dismissed it, allowing the matter to proceed on its merits.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Dellia Wellington led DPC 15051 Mohamed Konneh, a police officer attached to the Central Police Station, in evidence against three of the defendants.
Konneh told the court that he recognized all three defendants in the dock.
He recalled that on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at about 4:00 p.m., a joint team of police officers from the Central Police Station, headed by ASP Jose K. Williams, responded to an alleged protest-related disturbance in the Kroo Town area.
According to the witness, the defendants were among a group of people behaving in a disorderly manner. He said some members of the group had gathered sticks, stones and bottles and started throwing them at police officers.
Konneh testified that the first defendant, Foday Kargbo, was arrested with one flat, while the second defendant, Daniel Morrah, was arrested with one locally made cutlass.
He further testified that the third defendant, Alusine Bah, was arrested with an empty stout bottle.
The witness said the defendants were cautioned and questioned before making voluntary statements in connection with the alleged offences, including carrying offensive weapons, disorderly behaviour and throwing missiles.
He explained that the statements were made in Krio and recorded in English. According to him, the statements were later read and separately explained to each defendant, after which they confirmed them to be true and correct by affixing their right thumbprints.
The witness said the statements were witnessed by himself and ACP 41 Konneh.
He told the court that the first defendant’s statement was recorded by D1804 Kombeh H.A.S., while the statement of the second defendant, Daniel Morrah, was recorded by DPC Matteh F. He further testified that DPC 17735 Dumbuya A.A. witnessed the statements.
The statements were produced and tendered in court as exhibits.
The witness also told the court that the exhibits allegedly recovered from the first, second and third defendants remained in police custody.
He said that on September 15, 2026, the defendants were interviewed and subsequently charged separately with the alleged offences.
During cross-examination, defence counsel asked the witness whether there was any video or photograph showing the defendants at the alleged scene. The witness answered no.
Counsel further put it to the witness that the defendants had been arrested for different reasons without the police establishing whether they were involved in the alleged offences. The witness again answered no.
Counsel also put it to the witness that the third defendant, Alusine Bah, is a blacksmith and that the fourth defendant is an apprentice in his shop.
During further questioning by counsel for the third defendant, the witness was asked whether he had visited the alleged scene.
He answered yes and said he had seen broken bottles and sticks at the scene.
Following the proceedings, the accused persons were remanded at the Male Correctional Centre.
The matter was adjourned to October 12, 2026.