Fifty years old Ali Jaffal a businessman, Abdul Jaffal, Abdallah Jaffal, Mohamed Jaffal, Abbas Antar, Naif Antar and Hassan Jaffal made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on seven count charges, two ranging from wounding, two count ranging from assault occasioning actual bodily harm, throwing missiles and behaving in the disorderly manner.
According to the particulars of offence on Saturday 6th April 2024 at the Young Sport Club (YSC) facility Wilkinson Road in the Western Area in Freetown the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 7th accused maliciously wounded Adam Hamdan on count two the 7th accused on the above date and place maliciously wounded Mohamed Aroune.
On count three and four the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 7th accused on the above date and place maliciously wounded Adam Hamdan and Mohamed Aroune in a manner thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm.
On count five at the above date and place the accused were found fighting with intent to put the public into fear. On count six the accused on the above date and place were found throwing stones, sticks to put the public into fear on count seven at the same place and date the accused were found behaving in the disorderly manner in a public place.
When the charges was read and explained to the accused they pleaded not guilty.
State prosecutor Yusif Isaac Sesay Esq led prosecution witness number two Sergeant 1079 N`yilla Lassayo attached to the Foreign National Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters Pademba Road Freetown whilst on duty at the said office on the 6th April 2024 a transfer case and inquiry files from Lumley police station was allocated to her for further investigation on the same date she obtained further interview caution statement from Alie Jaffal he made statement in Krio language which was recorded in English language at the conclusion of the statement it was read over and explained to the accused in Krio language which he admitted it to be true and correct by afflicting his right hand thumbprint witness by DPC 19301 Tunde Bockarie and she signed as the recorder since then the statement was in the custody of the police which was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit A1-6.
On the 8th April 2024 another interview statement was obtained from the second accused in Krio language which was recorded in English language at the conclusion of the statement it was read over and explained to the accused in Krio language which he admitted it to be true and correct by afflicting his right hand thumbprint witness by the said investigator and she signed as the recorder the statement of the second accused was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit B1-8.
On the same date further interview caution statement was obtained from the third, sixth accused in Krio language which was recorded in English language. At the conclusion of the statement it was read over and explained to the accused person in Krio language which he admitted it to be true and correct by afflicting his right hand thumbprint witness by the said investigator the statement of the third accused was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records for the third it was marked as exhibit C1-9 and the Sixth accused statement was marked as exhibit B1-5.
On the 12th April 2024 he obtained charge statement from the sixth accused, she charged him with the offences of which he is standing trial on the charge statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit B1-2.
On the 7th April, 2024 further caution statement was obtained from the seventh accused person in Krio language which was recorded in English language at the conclusion of the statement it was read over and explained to the accused which he admitted it to be true and correct by afflicting his right hand thumbprint witness by DPC Conteh H and she signed as the recorder the said statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit F1-6.
On the 12th April 2024 she obtained charge statement from the accused for the offences he is standing trial on the charge statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as G1-6.
On the 3rd April 2024 the fourth accused was charged with the offences he is standing trial on the charge statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit H1-2 she concluded.
The defense counsels Tuma Jabbie and J.A.M.M Amara sought for a short adjournment date to cross examine the witness.
Meanwhile Magistrate Bangura adjourned the matter to the 14th June 2024.