Prosecution witness one Issa Kamara who is a Police Officer on Monday 29th April 2024, has testified before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Court No.2 on Pademba Road, Freetown on a matter of a possession of arm without license held against one Ali Jaffal.
The accused who made another appearance in court was arraigned on six counts charges ranging from possession of arms without license contrary to Section 22 1 of the Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunitions Act 2023, possession of ammunition without license.
Having in control of small arms without license, unlawful concealment of arms without license, keeping greater number of small arms without license and carrying offensive weapon, are all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
According to the particulars of offense, the accused Ali Jaffal on Saturday 6th April 2024, at the Young Sports Club (YSC) facility at Wilkinson Road Freetown was found in possession of one Makarov pistol without license.
The police further alleged that the accused on the same date and place was found in possession of 6 caliber of 9X19 millimeter gun without license.
It was alleged further that the accused was found carrying offensive weapon in a public place without lawful authority.
Lead in evidence by CSP JMS Bull, Esq led prosecution witness number one Sergeant 8576 Issa Kamara he started by saying he lives at Grafton Police Barracks and he is attached at the Exhibit Office at CID Headquarters on Pademba Road, Freetown.
He said, he recalled on the 15 April 2024, Sergeant 10279 Lassayo M handed over to him one old black star Makarov pistol with 6 live rounds and he registered it and was labeled as RCE/032/2022 and since seen with him it was in the custody of the police.
The witness tendered the pistol and the magazine with 6 live rounds to form part of the court records and the witness was cross examined by the defence counsel JM Jengo.
The witness then identified the weapon (pistol) as it belongs to the accused one Alie Jaffal.
Prosecution witness number two Chief Superintendent of Police Mohamed Turay who is attached at Lumley Police Division and his duty is to supervise personnel and to monitor sub stations to make sure that they are running properly.
He recognized the accused in the dock he recalled on the 6th April 2024. He said he received a distressed call himself and his police personnel dispatched at YSC instructed his personnel to deploy at the gate at the gate. He was approached by one Alie Coluza who introduced himself as the chairman of the YSC base.
Upon that he gave instruction to them to go back where they are for the situation to calm down they obeyed and the situation was put under control.
He went further and said there was a fight at YSC to the said Chairman who introduced himself to him he told him that they need to get those that involved in the fight while he was communicating with the chairman the accused came with anger with a Lebanese person and he told the chairman that all those that involved in the fight will be arrested the witness said he took three of the accused Jaffal and Antar and he told them that he was reliable informed that shot was made at YSC and he told them that he want the raffle the person that has it and the weapon be brought to him immediately and it was brought to him by one Lebanese man by the name of Toffic Dawie and he asked him where did he get it he told him that he disarmed it from the accused the witness said he took the raffle to the police station and handed it to the harm moral the raffle was shown to the witness and the cross examination was done by Jessie M Jengo said the accused and the other two people was taken to the police station the witness said yes, at the time you went to YSC you said the raffle was in the custody of one Toffic Dawie the witness said yes, you personally did not see the accused with the gun the witness said yes he concluded.
Counsel representing the accused JOP Manley Spain renewed his previous bail applications for the accused based on his medical condition as the accused spent the weekend at the Correctional Service hospitality as he is not feeling well, according to the defense counsel.
The defense appealed to the bench to grant the application so that the accused will get proper medical examination.
Responding to the defense counsel Prosecutor JMS Bull objected to the application made by the defense, as the Correctional Service has facility in prison for the accused to be treated.
Magistrate Santigie Bangura refused bail and sent the accused to the male correctional facility in Freetown, matter adjourned to the 2nd May 2024.