By Alimatu Jalloh
Mohamed Bangura and Lamin Bangura, two persons who had been accused of Robbery with Violence have on Monday October 16, 2023 appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura for the offence of Conspiracy, Robbery with Violence and Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm contrary to law.
The allegations of the police are that the accused persons on the 10th of September 2023 at Akram Kissy Brook in Freetown, robbed Ishmeal Sesay a cash sum of NLe400 and immediately after the robbery assaulted and wounded him in a manner thereby causing him grievous bodily harm.
Prosecution witness Detective Sergeant 8618, Foday Kakofa Sesay, attached to the Anti- Robbery Unit, at the Regional Ross Road in Freetown.
Sergeant Sesay recognized the accused and recalled that on the 10th of September, 2023, he was on duty at the Anti- Robbery unit at Freetown East, when the complainant arrested and brought in the accused at the said station.
Sesay said the complainant made a report against the accused and the matter was assigned to him for further investigation.
On the same day, he said he issued the complainant with a medical request form for treatment, disclosing that on the same day, the complainant returned the endorsed medical paper to the station
The result of the medial examination was then produced and tendered marked exhibit “A”.
On the same day, Sesay said he obtained statement from the complainant through an interpreter.
Foday told the court that on the 10th of September, 2023, he and Detective Inspector Mohamed Z. Kabba obtained statements from the accused, which they admitted to them to be true and correct by affixing their right-hand thumbprints, witnessed by Inspector Mohamed Z. Kabba.
The accused’s voluntary caution statements were produced and tendered in evidence.
He furthered that on the 11th of September 2023, he charged the accused with the offences of Conspiracy, Robbery with Violence and Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm.
The charge statements were produced and tendered to form part of the court’s records.
The accused persons had no professional legal representation and so they chose to cross examined the witness on their own behalves.
Sergeant 9874, Memunatu Manica Turay is prosecuting the matter.
Magistrate Kekura granted NLe 100,000 bail with a surety each in like sum.
The sureties should produce national Identity cards and should reside in Freetown.
Bail should be approved by the Deputy Master and Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to the 30th of October, 2023 for further hearing.