By Fatima Kpaka
Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 on Monday, December 24, 2024, issued an order demanding the former Deputy Minister 2, Patricia Laverley be in court on the next adjourned date or else he would remand her sureties.
The order came after Laverley failed to appear for the second time in court on medical grounds.
It could be recalled that the former Minister Patricia Laverley was arraigned on two counts of inflicting grievous bodily harm on the complainant contrary to section 20 of the Offense against the Person’s Act 1861 and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The indictment states that former Laverley on November 12, 2024, at State House in Freetown, assaulted Nabella Farida Tunis, Minister of Tourism, with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm on her.
The indictment further that the former Minister Laverley on the same day and place assaulted Nabella Farida Tunis in a manner thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.
This order was issued after defense counsel Leon Jenkins Johnson informed the court that the accused was at the Intensive Care Unit at Choithram Hospital and asked that the court move to the hospital to confirm that the former was Minister hospitalized.
He apologized to the court for her absence, adding that she is at the Intensive Care Unit, ICU, as she is suffering from a heart condition.
He said the court could go and confirm the health condition of the former minister.
Defense Counsel on the other hand informed the Magistrate that they were able to initiate communication between the family of the complainant Minister Nabela Tunis and the family of accused Laverley even though they have not concluded.
He said that want the former Minister to be in court to do the needful but they needed sufficient time for her to recover and be in a better State of health to be in court.
He said she was in court on the first date and since then she has been unwell.
Yusuf Isaac Sesay in reply said there is a court order which should be complied with.
He said that they are not averse to anything that will hinder Justice.
He said during the first appearance the former Minister Laverley was in court and she pleaded not guilty to the offense when the charges were read and explained to her.
State Counsel Sesay further said that the defense is playing on their intelligence, adding that the former Minister needs to be seen in court if not the bench warrant should be enforced.
Magistrate Santigie after listening to both sides said the defense is the one prolonging the matter, adding that justice is for both sides.
He said if the former Minister is seriously sick as stated by the defense, she should be in court for everyone to see and if it turns out to be true, she has the right to make the necessary order.
Lead defense counsel further that the court should move to Choithram to verify the accused’s situation.
State counsel Sesay opposed that, adding that the defense counsel should present a medical report before the court, and the court requested that the doctor be in court to ascertain the report.
The magistrate therefore told both sureties that if the former Minister did not appear in court on Wednesday, the sureties would be detained.
The matter was adjourned to Wednesday, December 4, 2024.