50 years-old, Ali Jaffal, was on Friday 26th April 2024 sent on remand by Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No. 2.

He held for possession of a Pistol loaded with ammunitions.

The accused who made his first appearance in court was arraigned on six counts charges ranging from possession of arms without license which is contrary to section 22 1 of the Sierra Leone Commission on arms and ammunitions Act 2023.

The law makes it a crime for 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.

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 a license to prove for carrying it along for self-defence or otherwise.

The police further alleged that the accused, on the same date and place, was found in possession of 6 caliber of 919 millimeter without a license.

It was alleged further that the accused was found carrying offensive weapon in a public place without lawful authority.

The prosecutor CSP Juan Bull said they have only received the file and in the circumstance requested for an adjournment to call their witnesses in order to proceed with the matter.

Lead counsel JOP Manley Spain applied for bail on behalf of the accused, and on the basis of that he is seen not a “flight risk” neither will he interfere with the witnesses.

She added that the accused is a respectable person; a first time offender, and had serious medical condition that has to do with his heart and needs to be at his house to receive proper treatment.

According to her, the accused is not supposed to be in Sierra Leone, noting that regulation  7 (1b) of the bail regulations  makes the circumstance of the first accused and that he should be put on bail.

The accused, she said is presume innocent until proven guilty, though the offences are serious and her application was made pursuant to Section 79 (2&3) of the Criminal Procedure Act No32 of 1965.

CSP Juan Bull opposed to the application for bail made by defense counsel on the grounds that the offences for which the accused charge was serious, adding that they had affidavit in opposition to bail identifying reasons for their objections to bail.

Magistrate Santigie Bangura having listened to both sides refused bail and remand the accused in prison and the matter was adjourned to Monday 29th Monday April 2024 for further hearing.