By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two tricycle riders, Alimamy Mohamed Bangura, 25, and Bai Bangura, 26, made their final appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, on three criminal charges.
The accused persons are charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, wounding, contrary to Section 20 of the same Act, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 47 of the Act.
According to the police indictment, both accused persons, on Thursday, 15 January 2026, at Phase 1 Gbangbayillah, Hill Station, Freetown, in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, allegedly wounded John Lefevre with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.
The second count states that the accused persons maliciously wounded John Lefevre at the same place and on the same date.
The third count further alleges that both accused assaulted John Lefevre in a manner that resulted in him sustaining actual bodily harm.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused persons, no plea was taken.
The prosecutor, Police Constable 18235 Thoronka K, informed the court that the matter was before the court for committal proceedings. The accused persons were represented by defence counsel S.I. Koroma.
In his ruling, Magistrate Fornah stated that after carefully reviewing the evidence presented by the prosecution, including both factual and formal evidence, the exhibits tendered in court, and the caution statements of the accused persons, he was satisfied that the prosecution had produced sufficient evidence linking the defendants to the offences charged.
He therefore ordered that both accused persons be committed to stand trial before the High Court.
However, Magistrate Fornah granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of NLe 50,000 each, with one surety each in like sum. The sureties must be senior, responsible citizens residing in Freetown with fixed addresses and must present valid National Voter ID cards or National Identification cards.
The magistrate said the bail was granted pursuant to Section 116(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 2024, with the bail conditions and sureties to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.