By Alimatu Jalloh
Three Police officers from the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters in Freetown on Monday, November 7, 2022, produced and tendered statements of accused persons to form part of the evidence in court.
The accused persons were arraigned on Conspiracy, Murder, and Arson, charges.
Detective Sergeant Augustine R. Lansana attached to the CID Headquarters in Freetown recalled August 17 when a team of detective police officers including himself arrived at the Correctional Centre where they found some arrested female suspects including one Abibatu Fullah, the 19th accused, whom he obtained statements from.
He said himself and his colleague Detective Inspector ABR interviewed the witness, and he signed as the recorder.
At this juncture the original copy of the witness charged statement was tendered as evidence in court.
.”In the course of my investigation the accused told me she was going to pick up her clothes,” he said.
Ibrahim Bangura, another witness attached at the CID headquarters, recalled August 22, 2022, when he was on duty when the 21st accused was brought to the CID headquarters from eastern part of Freetown.
He said he obtained statements from her.
During cross-examine, the police witness said that he took statement from the accused.
Another witness Detective Police Inspector Kai Songo Brewah attached to the Anti-Fraud Unit, recognised the 3rd accused, and recalled August 23, 2022 when himself and his colleague John Sheku Jabati contemporaneous interviewed the accused.
He said during the interview he served as the recorder.
The statement of the accused was again produced and tendered as exhibit.
He said he obtained statement from the accused at the Correctional Centre and the 3rd denied all the allegations put to her.
“She [accused] told me she was out on that day to buy her food,” the witness said.
The witness said that he interviewed the witness for multiple offences including conspiracy to commit a felony to wit murder, arson, treason, amongst others
The matter was adjourned to November 9, for further hearing.