By Alimatu Jalloh
Musu Roseline Arun Conteh, a staff of the Office of National Security (ONS) has on Wednesday August 14th 2024 testified in a case in which Jusu Tommy Fatorma, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Southern Lion Security Agency is believed to have operated that Agency without a valid license. Led in evidence by Yusuf Isaac Sesay Esq. Conteh stated that her responsibilities include the registration and licensing of private security companies.
She added that she recognized the accused person, and recalled that from the 4th to the 5th of July, 2024 at about 14:30 a staff complained at the ONS that the accused, who is the CEO of Southern Lion Security Company complained that he had worked for the accused for three months without receiving salary.
Conteh stated that she asked him to produce evidence of his employment with the above company and the said staff produced the name of a guarantor which bore the name of Southern Security Logistic Company situated at # 59B Leicester Road back of Muslims Brother Hood Freetown the witness said in the form she saw mobile number which was 077810116.
Conteh furthered that when the person left she called the number and one Pastor Fatoma Jusu answered her call, and under pretext she requested to hire security guards for two locations at Adonkia and at John Obey, and that she also asked Fatorma for his address a he gave it to her. She added that they agreed to meet on the 5th of July 2024 to tie up the what they had agreed on and at around 10:30am on that day Pastor Fatoma Jusu called and reminded her, and she informed her officer and the Situation Room was activated, and Sergeant 8687Mohamed Bundu the Integrated Intelligent Security Officer, who had also testified in this matter, was readied for deployment. She added that they arranged an operation and called the accused to meet with them at Model junction Circular Road. She added that they arrived at Mode Junction within ten minutes and the accused was picked up and taken to the Office of National Security.
She said that she then informed the accused that it was against the law to operate a private security agency without a license issued by the ONS. She added that Fatoma admitted to being aware that what he had been doing is unlawful. Conteh stated that the accused informed him that he started operating his security company on the 8th of August 2023, she added that the accused further told her that he had fourteen guards, and three clients: one at Islamic College on Wilkinson Road, and the other at the Evangelical Church Murray Town and SV Electronic Shops. She added that after those exchanges she instructed for the Fatorma to be taken to the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters at Pademba Road, in Freetown where she made statement. The witness was cross examined by C. Kamara Esq. who renewed his previous Bail applications on behalf of the accused person.
Magistrate Bangura refused bail on the grounds of public policy consideration and the grievous nature of the offence charged, and adjourned the matter to the 21st of August 2024.