Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No 1 has upheld the application made by Lawyer Charles Francis Margai, lead defense counsel for Kemoh Sesay, and ordered for the matter to be treated as Preliminary Investigation.
Delivering his ruling shortly after the matter was mentioned yesterday, he said upon hearing the application of the defense counsel for the matter to be heard at the High Court, he upheld the application and ordered for it to be heard as Preliminary Investigation.
Thereafter, the charge was reread by court clerk for the matter to commence.
The accused was charged with two counts of cyber stalking and bullying contrary to section 44(2)(b) of the Cyber Security and Crime Act of 2021.
It is alleged on the charge sheet that sometimes between March and April 2022, through social media via WhatsApp in the Portloko District, Bakeloko Chiefdom, the accused Alhaji Kemoh Sesay, former minister of Aviation and Transport, did willfully and repeatedly communicate directly to the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Retired Brigadier Dr.Julius Maada Bio in a manner that he knows to be false, for the purpose of causing danger, obstruction, insult, injury, Criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred, ill will or needless anxiety to Retired Brigadier Dr. Julius Maada Bio and causes such a message to be sent.
He was did enter plea to the charge.
State Counsel YI Sesay seek the court leave for a date on behalf of his senior in Chamber AJM Bockarie who was attending to other function at the High Court.
Magistrate Sahr Kekura adjourned the matter to Wednesday, May 25, 2022 for the state to open its case.
By Alimatu Jalloh