Bai Koblo Queen II, Paramount Chief of Marampa Chiefdom in Port Loko District, has on Monday July 6, 2020 continued his testimony in a matter emanating from that Chiefdom in which 30 persons mostly residents are being investigated for the crimes of Conspiracy, Murder, Arson and Malicious Damaged in relation to an attack on his house during a riot at the town of Lunsar about two months ago.
He continued his testimony before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie at the Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1 on Pademba Road in Freetown.
In this matter, police are claiming that on diverse dates between the 1st of April and the 30th of April 2020, at Lunsar, a town which situates within his chiefdom who are mostly resident of Lunsar, conspired together with some other persons unknown to murder Alie Kabia, a nephew of the Paramount Chief and also destroy property valued at over Le1 billion.
In his testimony PC Koblo Queen said that the remains of his nephew, Alie Kabia who was murdered during the riot was later found outside his compound, and the attackers were fast approaching his house, but he fled from there and sought refuge at a neighbor’s place five minutes before they got there.
He further testified that during the attack at his residence, the assailants destroyed one Range Rover Sport vehicle, six plasma TV, 15 pairs of slippers, and 100 Bazan suits, valued at Le 200 million Leones, a 75 KVA generator valued at Le. 150 million Leones, a standby Parkinson generator valued at Le100 million Leones, seven freezers valued at Le. 28 million Leones, cash of US$50,000, and Le20 million , and damage to his house which exceeds Le 4 billion Leones.
He said that during the troubles, a rescue party came and rescued him after his property had been destroyed. He informed the court that his ordeal lasted for four hours.
Lawyers Lansana Dumbuya, J. M. Jengo, I. Macfoy, M.W. Jalloh, and I.T. Mansaray represented the 9th, 12th, 13th and 14th accused persons. Lawyer C. Pujeh represented the 26th accused person, and lawyer I. Bangura represented all other accused persons excluding the 9th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 26th accused persons.
PC Koblo Queen II said that in spite of the fact that he had ran away with his family he was able to identify the 31 accused persons who are standing trial before running away, because before they pulled out of the area he looked through an opening and saw them standing out of the house.
Defense Lawyer J.M. Jengo also contended that because the PC had fled the scene, he could not have identified the accused persons who wreaked havoc on his compound, but the PC maintained that he had seen them within the five minute period as he was trying to escape. Jengo argued that PC may not have seen the accused burnt down the property which the accused persons are alleged to have burnt down within a period of five minutes.
Lawyer Macfoy, on the other hand argued that the 9th accused that he was representing was not in Lunsar at the time of the alleged incident.
Lawyer Dumbuya, during his cross-examination, disclosed that the problem between the PC and his subject borders around leadership. According to him the PC appointed a Headman for the Chiefdom which the people did not accept.
He revealed that the 14th accused was not present at the scene, but was working at a mining site, but had been called by the Paramount Chief who needed his help, but he did not show up at the Chief’s house until after the incident. According to the Paramount Chief, the issue between him and his subject stemmed from their suspicion that he had installed 5G network in the Chiefdom. He denied calling the 14th accused person, Osman Karankay, for help.
Both the State Counsel and the defense counsels requested for the matter to be adjourned, and Principal Magistrate Hannah Bonnie adjourned the matter to July 14, 2020 at 1: 00pm.
By Isabella Cassell
08/07/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7861