By Mohamed Foday Conteh
Three men Ibrahim ‘Alkaline' Conteh, Mohamed Bangura and Mohamed ‘Cartel' Turay have been arraigned before Justice Amy Wright to answer to allegations of robbery with aggravation.
The State counsel, Vivian E. Kabia led in two witnesses on Tuesday 16th November this year to testify against the three accused persons at the High Court in Freetown.
Detective Police Constable 13873 Alusine Kanu attached to the Adonkia Police Station told the court he was on duty on the 29th September 2019 at the station when one Detective Sergeant Turay handed over to him a bar which he registered in the exhibit book.
He said that the exhibit has been in his custody ever since and took out a rust bar from a green polythene, which he tendered in court.
Police Constable 19108 Hassan Larkoh also testified against the three accused men. Constable Larkoh narrated that on the 1st October 2019 while working at the Anti-Robbery Unit at the Regional West Headquarters Lumley an inquiry file together with the three accused persons were brought in and handed over to him for investigation from Adonkia Police Station.
He said that the files he received contained statements from complainants, witnesses and a voluntary caution statement from the accused persons.
The State lawyer pleaded with the judge for the voluntary caution statement to be read by Constable Larkoh.
However, the defence counsel from Legal Aid Board, Cyril Taylor-Young objected to the reading of the voluntary caution statements of the three accused persons on the grounds that he was not given enough time to peruse them.
He said he will have to go through the said statements to ascertain they contained what they told the police. Taylor-Young asked the judge for an adjournment in order for him to have a thorough look at them.
Conteh, Bangura and Turay were in court to answer to five count charges which included conspiracy to commit a robbery, robbery, robbery with aggravation and burglary.
The prosecution is alleging in count one that the three men on the 27th September 2019 conspired with other unknown persons to commit a felony to wit robbery.
The state is also alleging that the men robbed Abdul Kamara and Mohamed Koroma monies and items worth over 10 million Leones.
Justice Wright adjourned the matter for the 30th November this year. Constable Larkoh is expected to continue his testimony.
Copyright © Politico Online 17/11/21
