By: Audrey Raymonda John
Donald Kabia an Auto Mechanic made another appearance before Magistrate Peter Gogra of Pademba road court No.6 in Freetown on two count charges to wit Assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to the Laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the particulars of offence on Sunday 20th November 2022 at No.88 Regent Road Lumley the western area in Freetown assaulted Elie Pratt in a manner thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm; on count two on the same date and place in the view of the public and in the presence of the said complainant did insulted her in such manner as would be likely to provoke him to commit a breach of the peace.
The charges were read and explained to the accused person and he pleaded not guilty.
Assistant Superintendent of police Abdul Sannoh led first Prosecution witness (PW1) Elie Pratt a mechanic said he recognized the accused person as his neighbor and recalled the 20th November 2022.
PW1 said he was in church when he got information about the accused person and returned from church, asked the accused person what has he scattered on the said land. The accused person told him that he should not ask him and started raining insults on him.
The witness said the accused slapped him on the back of his neck and called him a thief. PW1 said he went to Lumley police station and made report and was issued police medical request form and went for medical check and the endorsed medical request form was taken to the said police station. It was later produced for identification in court and statements were obtained from him.
The witness was cross examined by defense counsel W.C Oluba and applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person that he is a Sierra Leonean resident within this jurisdiction that he has reliable sureties who are willing and ready to go into recognizance on his behalf he will not interfere with prosecution witness or witnesses he made his application pursuant to section 79 3 of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Main while, Magistrate Gogra granted the accused person bail in the sum of tem million Leones with two sureties in like sum sureties to be resident in the western area in Freetown sureties to produce valid identity card depicting his or her address in Freetown one surety to be above 50 years and above both sureties to be employed bail to be approved by the Bench.
Matter was adjourned to 10th January 2023.