A 16-year-old boy, was on Wednesday September 17, 2020, arraigned for breaking air travelling regulations. The boy is accused of illegally boarding a flight from the Lungi International Airport which eventually arrived in Dubai. He appeared before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of court No.1 on Pademba Road in Freetown where he is being preliminary investigated on the charge of trespassing on the Airport. Police alleged that the accused on Monday May 11, 2020, at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi through the restricted General Managers’ security gate which was tagged with an inscription ‘’restricted area, unauthorized access prohibited’,’ and unlawfully boarded the Etihad flight, EY091-EY9719 and EY96020 to Abu Dhabi.
Magistrate Bonnie disclosed that the offence which the accused committed exceeds what is before the court, and therefore urged the police prosecutors to investigate the matter more.
She said the investigation was inappropriate and improper, and was eager to know how the 16-year-old breached airport security in the full view of security personnel at the airport without being stopped.
The 16-year-old was unaware of the destination of the flight, but yet boarded it.
He added that he boarded it because he wanted to seek greener pastures. He said that security personnel wanted to intercept him but, he outsmarted them by acting busy and placing a fake call and pretending that someone wanted to speak to one of the security personnel at the airport.
The prosecutors are yet to bring witnesses to court to testify. The accused had no legal representation. The matter has been adjourned to September 18, 2020.
By Isabella Cassell
18/09/2020. ISSUE NO: 9012