By: Audrey Raymonda John
The accused who identify themselves as Alpha Bangura, Patheh Jalloh, Dauda Jalloh, Santigie Koroma and four (4) others made another appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Court No.1, Freetown, for allegedly entered into the Gate Way Evangelistic Ministry Church and stole items in the Church worth over one hundred thousand new Leones.
The accused are standing trial before the court on seven counts charges ranging from conspiracy contrary to law, sacrilege, attempted arson, Malicious damage, throwing missiles, riotous conduct and disorderly behavior all contrary to law.
The charge sheet indicated that the accused on Sunday 24th September 2023, at the Gate Way Evangelistic Ministry Church at Quarry Kissy, Freetown, conspired together to commit a crime.
The charge sheet further that the accused on the same day and place break and entered into Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church and stole one (1) Lenovo laptop computer, one (1) iPhone 13 Promax, one (1) Ultra Samsung mobile phone and ten (10) yards carpet totaling one hundred and twenty-seven thousand two hundred new Leones (Le127,200/00), property of the said Church.
The charge sheet further that the accuse attempted to set fire on the Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church and also maliciously damaged fifty-eight (58) pieces of windows glasses and it frames, three (3) plasma television, two (2) HPIS computers and other valuable items value at three hundred and twenty-seven thousand new Leones, property of the Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church.
The charge sheet further that the accuse were found throwing missiles at the said premises and behaved in a riotous and disorderly manner.
Shortly after the matter was mentioned by the court clerk, the fourth accused Santigie Koroma was absent before the court.
Prosecution Counsel James Fonah Sesay said the prosecution are ready to go on with the matter, adding that the video clips that should be play in court was ready but the fourth accused was also absent.
He said that the matter is a preliminary investigation and cannot go on without the absent of the accused.
He therefore made an application for a bench warrant to be issued against the absent accused.
Defense Counsel Julian Cole said that the accused is sick and the surety who is the father of the accused is in court.
He said that the surety did not bring a medical report to ascertain the sickness of the absent accused, adding that the surety was not aware of that.
Magistrate Ngegba said he has nothing to believe or relied on to show that the fourth accused Santigie is sick and so he will order a bench warrant for him.
Julian Cole further argue again that this is the first time that the fourth accused is absent in court and the surety who is the father is in court.
Pleaded with the bench to wait at the next adjourned date for them to produce a medical report.
Magistrate Ngegba said he is taken his decision based on the bail regulations and Julian Cole made an application for the matter to be stool down so that they can address the court on the bail regulations.
Magistrate Ngegba refused and issued bench warrant against the absent accused.
The matter was adjourned to the 28th December 2023 for continuation.