By: Audrey Raymonda John
Six men have been remanded in custody pending trial after appearing before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown. The defendants face multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit robbery with aggravation, conspiracy to murder, robbery with aggravation, murder, and receiving stolen goods, contrary to Section 33(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The accused are Martin Sellu, Gbassay Swarray, Foday Sallu, John Bangalie (alias Boika), Joseph Gilamaja Kamara (alias Shine) and Foday Alhassan Sesay.
The charges stem from events that took place between 1st and 29th August 2025 in Bo City, Southern Province. According to the particulars of the offence.
Count One stated that the defendants conspired with other persons unknown to commit robbery with aggravation. Count Two said the defendants conspired with others unknown to commit murder. Count Three noted that on 30th August 2025, at Buma III Section, Kenema in the Eastern Province, the defendants, armed with a locally made single-barrel gun, allegedly robbed Reverend Father Augustine Dauda Amadu of a grey Lenovo laptop worth $350 and 5,000 Leones. During or immediately before or after the robbery, they used personal violence against the Reverend. Count Four stated that the defendants are charged with the murder of Reverend Father Augustine Dauda Amadu on the same day, 30th August 2025.
Count Five showed that on29th August 2025, in Waterloo, Western Area, Foday Alhassan Sesay (the 6th defendant) is accused of receiving the stolen Lenovo laptop, knowing it had been taken unlawfully.
After the charges were read and explained, all six defendants pleaded not guilty, except for the 6th defendant, who also pleaded not guilty to receiving the stolen goods.
In the course of the proceedings, Inspector Mabel Tarawally led in evidence Reverend Father Michael Thomas Lamboi (Prosecution Witness No. 2). Reverend Lamboi testified that he knew both the deceased and the accused. He recounted how, after morning prayers on 30th August 2025, he noticed several missed calls on his phone. Upon returning one call, he learned of the death of Reverend Father Amadu. He then traveled to Kenema, where he met an ambulance heading to the mortuary. After visiting the deceased’s residence, which was locked, he proceeded to the Kenema Police Station to make a statement. He further stated that the police had informed him that the deceased’s body would be sent to Freetown for a post-mortem, and he accompanied them to the 34 Military Hospital. The body was later released to him for burial on 18th September 2025.
Detective Police Officer Issa Kamara (PW3) testified that on 15th September 2025, while on duty, Inspector Borbor Foday handed him an old Dell laptop, which he registered with serial number 115/2025. Officer Kamara confirmed that the laptop had been in police custody and was later presented as evidence in court, where it was marked as Exhibit Q.
The defense counsel for the accused applied for bail on behalf of the six defendants. However, Magistrate Jah, considering the seriousness of the charges, remanded all six defendants to the Male Correctional Center and adjourned the case to *6th October 2025 for further hearing.