By Francis H. Murray
Three accused persons who police alleged conspired to attack the residence of Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Lahai Lawrence Leema, were denied bail on Monday.
The accused persons were making their first appearance before Magistrate Marke Ngegba of the Magistrate Court No 2 at Pademba Road.
The first accused, Ali Foster, was shot in the leg by security personnel guarding Leema’s residence on the 1st of February. Victor Emmanuel Sesay and Micheal Abass Turay are the second and third accused, respectively.
All three accused persons face a total of 14 count charges, ranging from conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm, to conspiracy to commit malicious damage, riotous conduct, carrying offensive weapons without lawful authority, among others.
The matter is being prosecuted by State Persecutor Lawyer Adrian Fisher. and Prosecution witness No.1, Detective Superintendent of Police Mohamed Kugbua Allieu, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters in Freetown.
The Police alleged that Foster, Sesay and Turay conspired with other persons unknown to murder Leema on the 1st of February 2020 during the national cleaning exercise at his 14 Minah Drive residence at Jubah Hill in Freetown.
Responding to Lawyer Fisher, Detective Allieu said the incident took place on the 1st day of February during the national cleaning exercise at the residence of the complainant, during which an armed bodyguard assigned to the Leema’s residence was on duty.
Allieu stated that he was informed by the head of CID, CSP Dokins Alpha, about reports of a shooting incident at Leema’s home in Juba.
‘‘I formed a team of detective police officers together with the crime scene officer to proceed to the scene, which I did. On arrival at the scene I met the then IG Freetown West, now the new Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police, whom I interviewed. I mounted a full-fledged major incident investigation into the matter,’’ he explained.
He went on to note that he visited the 1st accused who was shot by the police guard at the Emergency Hospital in Goderich in Freetown from where statement was obtained from him. He said Forster in that statement named his co-suspects. He said they later acted upon the information by arresting the second and third accused.
He further stated that he allocated the matter specifically to an investigator under his supervision, Inspector Mohamed Kargbo, and that together they conducted their investigation by visiting houses in the area.
During the cross-examination of Detective Allieu, Lead defense counsel, Lawyer C. Campbell, questioned whether the shooting led to the serious injuries received by the 1st accused, Foster, to which Allieu replied in the affirmative.
The defense lawyer also pointed out that the prosecutor did not include anything in respect of the shooter.
Allieu responded by justifying the shooting, describing it as “lawful by rules of engagement.”
Lawyer Campbell also questioned Alleiu about the idea of questioning Foster in the hospital whiles he was responding to treatment.
The Detective said that was the standards used by even the Independent Police Complaint Board who conducted their own independent investigations.
Campbell argued that the prosecutor only concentrated on the evidence that implicated his clients rather than those that exonerated them during the course of his investigation.
C. Campbell, at the end of his argument, pleaded for bail to be granted to his clients especially the 1st accused who, according to him, was in severe pain as a result of his injury.
He said, Foster could only get the required medical attention needed if he were granted bail.
Magistrate Ngegba denied all three accused persons bail. He however instructed that specific attention, in the form of medical service, be given to the 1st accused.
The case was adjourned to the 23rd of March.
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