After a renewed bail plea by defense counsel for the first accused, Charles F. Margai Esq. on Wednesday June 24, 2020, Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Court No.1 re-admitted Dr. Sylvia O. Blyden, the proprietress of Awareness Times newspaper and former minister under the Koroma Administration, to bail.
Defense counsel in his plea assured the court that there would not be a recurrence of what had earlier transpired. He said if her bail is not restored it would result to double jeopardy because the accused is standing on similar offence of contempt at the High Court before Justice Ivan Sesay.
Blyden was previously admitted to bail in the sum of Le 500 million, two sureties in like sum who were to be responsible citizens in Freetown, and who must own a property in Freetown in the form of a house valued not less than Le 1 billion.
The sureties must submit to the Court all relevant property documents, evaluation certificates and a title deed which must be approved by the Master and Registrar of the High Court of Sierra Leone.
As a result of Dr. Blyden refraining to adhere to the Magistrate’s orders she was sent into remand at the Female Correctional Centre on Wednesday June 3, 2020, after State Counsel lawyer Y.I. Sesay drew the attention of Principal Magistrate Hannah Bonnie to an “inciting post” on her Facebook page, in respect of the matter.
The action by Magistrate Bonnie came following an early warning she gave to the accused not to publish anything on her Newspaper or on social media.
Magistrate Bonnie restored the bail of the accused and adjourned the matter to Tuesday 30th June, 2020.
The accused persons, Sylvia O. Blyden, and Hussein Mukson Sesay are answering to charges of seditious libel, defamatory libel, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and doing acts intended to pervert the course of justice contrary to law.
By Isabella Cassell
25/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7853