By Francess Hawanatu Kamara

In the hearing, on bomb-making trial in court, on Monday, 9th September, 2024, before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Court No. 2 in Freetown, the prosecution brought Assistance Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Trading Company as witness to testify.

The accused was one Sierra Leonean and two Lebanese national, who were alleged of importing bomb making material into the country without lawful authority.

In other for the witness to testify, the state counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay led in witness Samuel Marrah, who said he worked for Infinity Training Limited located at Wilkinson Road, and the company deals with industrial and other equipment, he added.

In given evidence, the witness  recognized the first accused Hussein Antar whiles he was at Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the second accused Jamal Antar, who reside at Smart Farm very close to their office, also knew the third accused Suliaman Barrie through the first accused Hussein Antar.

He explained what transpired in diverse dates between 1st October 2023, to the 9th July 2024, explaining that on the above dates, he met with the first accused Hussein Antar at their office and he told him that he has some containers to ship, and would need his help.

He further that after a while he was told by accused Hussein that the container are ready for shipment and it Three Forty feet and One Twenty feet containers, which  he needs their company’s name to ship in the containers.

According to the Witness Marrah further that, he told accused the Hussein that there is someone at the Quay by the name Ibrahim Bashiru Kamara, who would help them out and he agreed.

He further that he furnished the first accused with the company’s name (JTK) and after sometimes Hussein sent him a copy of bid of laden and the invoice all documents were in soft copy and he forwarded same to Ibrahim Bashiru Kamara.

Ibrahim Bashiru according to witness also sent him receipt of the invoice which state the cost of total fees for the clearing summing up amounting to Three Hundred Thousand  Leones, which he sent to the first accused Hussein.

He added that after sometime accused Hussein told him that he has raised 90% of the money and that he should go to his house to collect the money which he said he did.

Witness Marrah further that he went to the house of accused Hussein and he received 270 thousand new Leones from him and he took it to Ibrahim Bashuru Kamara to start the process.

He added that on the 10th November 2023, Bashiru called him again to ask for his Balance and he called the first accused to ask for the balance and he promised to reach out to him.

He further that after a while  Hussein called him, informing him that he has the balance of 30 thousand news Leones which he will send with the third accused Suliaman Barrie to hand it over to him which he received.

He continued that on the 11th November 2023, he received a call from Bashiru saying that the containers were ready, adding that he then called the first accused Hussein in respect of that and he told him that they should take them to 3 Mile.

The clerk Alhaji Kabba he said later called him, informing him that they have reached 3 Mile with the containers  and he in turn told the clerk to asked for the first accused which he did and they spoke on the  phone to confirm whether it was him.

The defence counsel I Kamara on behalf of the first and second accused requested for an adjournment to cross examined the witness.

Lawyer D Koroma also requested for an adjournment to cross examined the witness.

The accused were arraigned before the court on thirty counts charges ranging from conspiracy,  providing funds for the transportation of chemical weapons, providing funds for the stockpiling of chemical weapons, importation of arms manufacturing material without valid licence,  possession of arm manufacturing material, having in custody of arms manufacturing, aiding and abetting the commission of an offence, importation and transportation of prohibited drug and perverting the course of justice all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.

According to the indictments, it was alleged that Hussein Antar, Jamal Antar, and Sulaiman Barrie on diverse days between the 1st October 2023 and the 9th July 2024, conspired with other persons unknown to commit an offence by providing funds for the transportation of chemical weapons (bomb-making materials) without licenses.

The indictment further that Hussein Antar on a date unknown between 11 November 2023 and 9th July 2024 at Freetown, provided funds to Samuel Marrah for the unlawful transportation of chemical weapons from Queen Elizabeth II Quay to a house at Madina Community Waterloo.

Police further alleged that Hussein Antar , Jamal Antar and Suliaman Barrie, on diverse dates between the 1st October 2023, and 30th November 2023 conspired together to commit a crime by: Importation of Arms Manufacturing Material into Sierra Leone without

Licence.

Also the accused on a date unknown between the 11th November 2023, and 7th July 2024 at Freetown, had in their possession Arms Manufacturing Material in Sierra Leone without a valid license.

The charge sheet further that the accused Jamal Antar and Suliaman Barrie on diverse dates between 1 October 2023 and 7th July 2024 at Freetown, aided and abetted Hussein Antar and other persons unknown to import into Sierra Leone bomb-making materials without licence and also stockpile in Sierra Leone bomb-making materials without licence.

The charge sheet further that Jamal Antar and Suliaman Barrie on

diverse dates between the 1st October 2023 and the 7th July, 2024, at Freetown, aided and abetted Hussein Antar and other persons unknown to import into Sierra Leone a huge quantity of prohibited drugs without lawful authority, and also aided and abetted Hussein Antar to transport to Sierra Leone a huge quantity of prohibited drugs without lawful authority.

The charge sheet further that all the accused between the 1st of October 2023, and the 30th November 2023 conspired together to import a huge quantity of prohibited drugs without lawful authority and also  Hussein Antar on a date unknown between the 1st October 2023 and the 11th November 2023, imported a prohibited drug into Sierra Leone without lawful authority.

The police further alleged that  Hussein Antar on a date unknown between 11th  November, 2023, and the 9th July 2024, at Freetown, transported a prohibited drug from the Queen Elizabeth I1 Quay, Freetown to 93 Smart Farm, Off-Wilkinson Road, Freetown without lawful authority.

The charge sheet continue that all the  accused persons on a date unknown between the 11  November 2023 and  9th July 2024 at Freetown,  had in his possession a prohibited drug without lawful authority and also well knowing the

Circumstances leading to the importation of bomb-making material into Sierra Leone, fabricate evidences with no intent to pervert the course of justice.

The accused were remanded in custody until Wednesday 11 September, 2024.