By: Audrey John
Ming Tong Chang a Chinese national and Finance Officer at Wongor mining group has on the 29 August 2022 testified before magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No1 over an alleged gold robbery involving two accused persons.
The accused persons Amadu Bello Mohamed Thailey aka bomb micnt, Augustine Korfuma aka councilor, Boibe Gibnia Conteh and Daniel Somuta aka one man geng were arraigned in court on four counts charges ranging from conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to law, robbery with aggravation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and carrying offensive weapon without lawful authority and reasonable excuse all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The particulars for counts one states that all the accused on Friday 1st July 2022 at Wongor mining international cooperation, Sierra Leone limited Kumoroh village, in the Nimikoro chiefdom Kono District conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit robbery with aggravation.
Counts two states that the accused persons on the same date and place being armed with cutlass and scissors, robbed Ruiping Chen a Chinese national a black bag containing four thousand, four hundred and ninety eight point five four grams concentrate of gold substance valued $38,00 USD equivalent to (NLe, 522,500/00) and at the same time of or immediately before or immediately after the said robbery, did use personal violence to the said Ruiping Chen.
The police further alleged on counts three that the accused person Daniel Samura aka one man geng on the same date and place assaulted Ruiping Chen in a manner thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm.
Whiles counts four added that the accused Daniel Samura on the same date carry offensive weapon in a public place to wit cutlass and a scissors without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
Deputy Superintendent of police Isatu Gbassy Fofanah Lead Prosecution witness number four 8976 Issa Kamara attached to the exhibit office at the Criminal Investigation Department CID headquarters Pademba Road Freetown said his duties and responsibilities is to ensure the safe keeping of all exhibit brought in related to matters reported for investigation.
He recalled on the 4th July 2022 DPC 14875 Kumba E attached to the breaking and larceny handed over to him one locally made cutlass, one hold scissors one assorted colour gold cap two short gun cartridges.
The exhibit was registered in their court register book as against serial number RCE 892/2022.
Since then, the said exhibit was in his custody it was produced and tendered in court.
The defense counsel Jessie M Jengo said he will give his no case submission on the next adjourning date. He renewed his previous Bail applications on behalf of the accused persons.
However, Magistrate Ngegba granted all accused persons bail in the sum of Five hundred thousand Leones new Leones each, sureties must be above 40yrs old.
Title deeds valued four hundred million to be tendered.
Sureties must be gainfully employed from a recognized institution in Sierra Leone bail to be approved by the Master and registrar matter adjourned to the 13th September 2022 for further hearing.
