Samu-Coco Security Personnel on Remand for Unlawful Possession of Pistol

By Feima Sesay

Alpha Sheriff alias Sheriff APC , Alhassan Kamara, Alhaji Hassan, Amadu Conteh, Alhaji Saidu Fofanah, Sorie Sillah, Abdul Karim Man’s , Abdul Aziz Kargbo and Aruna Sorsor Kamara were on Tuesday 25th July 2023 sent on remand by magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No1 for allegedly operating a security service and possessing a  pistol without license.

These accused persons were arrested during the June 24th 2023 election campaign period in Bo town. The accused persons made their first appearance and were arraigned on 4 counts charges ranging from Operating a private security see ice without valid license contrary to 31(8) of the National Security and central Intelligence Act 2023, Act No 2 of 2023, Possession of small arms without license, Having in control of small arms without license contrary to section 11(1) of the arms and ammunitions Act 2012 and Unlawful Concealment of arm all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.

According to the particulars of offences for count one, all the accused persons on Wednesday 7th June 2023, at Keibbie Town Bo in the Southern province were found operating a private security service by the name of SAMU-COCO security, without valid license. The police alleged on counts two that the first accused Alpha Sheriff on the same date and place was found in possession of one gray and black  Taurus Armas Revolver pistol with serial number ACB 569232(856) without license. It was also alleged on counts three that the first accused persons was found in his control of the aforementioned pistol without license.

Whiles Count four added that the first accused was found unlawfully concealed the said gray and black pistol. When the charges were read to them they pleaded not guilty. The Prosecution witness No1 Sub Inspector Mohamed Wai led in evidence by JMS Bull Esq. said he is attached at the operations department Bo west division.

He said on the 7th June 2023, he was on duty at the said division when he received a telephone call from the AIG Kanneh that some people bulldoze the checkpoint.  Upon receipt of the information, he said himself together with 5 others onboard  SLP 221vehicle  and went to the scene and that upon their  arrival they met the vehicle park with the bonnet  open and that he called the AIG informing her that they have seen the vehicle.

”We search the vehicle and saw 4 baseball bat,  and later search the first accused person was discovered pepper spray, one knife, one military compass and  one British revolver Pistol”, he explained.

The accused persons were later taken to the regional CID police station Bo and they made their statement. The said exhibit was shown to the witness for identification and we’re tender as exhibits respectively to form part of the evidence. During Cross examination by defense counsel, Joseph Fizgerald  Kamara, the witness was asked as to how  long he has been a police officer , he said he has been a police officer for the past 33 year and station in Bo for the past 15  years.

 On the 7th June 2023, the witness confirms that the call from the AIG was directed to the OPs Officer. When he was question as to which of the accused was found with the baseball bat, the witness said the baseball bat was found on the vehicle whiles the revolver was found on the first accused.

He said the accused persons were handed over to the crime officer Bo but denied beaten them during their arrest. When it was put to him, that he allowed civilian and the mayor of Bo city  to enter into the police station to beat the accused person up, he denied having knowledge of that.

Lawyer Kamara put it to the witness that on the day of the incident he was not at the scene, but he confirmed being at the scene and described the color of the vehicle as white color hillux.

Defenses counsel applied for the witness statement to be show to him but was vehemently objected to by the prosecutor on the grounds that the defense counsel did lay the proper foundation and did not cite any law.

The witness in continuation of his cross examination said he was the one that search the first accused and the items that were found on him were of police interest.

When the witness was asked as to whether the inscription of APC Sheriff on the T-shirt of the first accused was what led to his arrest, but the witness said no, his arrested has nothing to do with that. The witness was also asked whether he is aware of any video that was  going rund on social media, he said no. At this juncture the defenses counsel requested an adjournment for continuation of his cross examination and also to bring the video evidence to court.

He however applied for bail on behalf of all the accused persons pursuant to section 79 sub sections 3 of the CPA 1965. He added that the offences for which the other 8 accused persons were charge is a regulating offence and therefore pleaded for bail to be granted to them, whiles he said first accused faces charge of unlawful possession.

He said they have heard the opportunity of reviewing the affidavit in opposition to bail by the prosecutor but urged the bench to discountenance it. Chief Superintendent of police Juan S Bull Esq. in reply vehemently opposed to bail relying on their affidavit in opposition to bail, noting that it is a PI wand wanted the matter to be investigated speedily, she said the matter involves possession of weapon.

Magistrate Ngegba however refused the accused persons bail on the grounds that the offences are serious and that the testimony of PW1 is incomplete. The matter was adjourned to the 2nd August 2023.