By Anthony Vandy
As one of the crime fighting strategies to ensure a crime free atmosphere within the city of Bo and its environs, the Regional Police Commander South AIG Aiah Edward Samadia has formed a crack squad with the mandate to weed out notorious and hardcore drug dealers and criminals in the city of Bo and its immediate surroundings.
Owing to the initiative of the Regional Police Commander South, the crack squad has embarked on series of targeted raids at grey areas within the city of Bo and its immediate surroundings.
Upon an intelligence received, the crack squad on Thursday 25th November, 2021 carried out a targeted raid at various locations within the city of Bo and two suspected hardcore criminals were apprehended with drugs and offensive weapons.
The two suspects were Alimamy Tarawally and Cherenor Alusine Jalloh all of Bo town.
Exhibits and suspects were handed over to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) South for further investigation.
Admonishing the crack squad, the Regional Police Commander South, AIG Aiah Edward Samadia reiterated to the squad that they are to work within the confines of the Sierra Leone Police code of ethics in a bid to change the narrative for the betterment of the Organization.
He cautioned them to be efficient and effective in executing their respective mandates and as well responsible and accountable while executing their duties.
He commended the team for their remarkable success since the commencement of their operations in Bo, ranging from the arrest of Mohamed Kanu the local shot gun manufacturer, the arrest of Didi Maxwell with hunge quantum of drug and shot guns to name but a few.
AIG encouraged all and sundry to intensify patrols within their respective areas of responsibilities as part of the yuletide Policing, he concluded.
President Bio Dispatches Vice President and Energy Minister to Còte d’Ivoire to Firm up Arrangements to light up the South-East
VP Juldeh Jalloh Engages President Ouattara on Power Purchase & Transmission Agreements
By:Austine Luseni
The Vice President is seeking audience with the Ivorian President where he is expected to deliver a personal letter from His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio with respect to the inception of the TRANSCO CLSG project.
The Vice President is also expected to foster or enhance Sierra Leone’s long-standing bilateral relations with the francophone country, including trade and the possibility to re-start the Air Côte d’Ivoire flights to Freetown.
Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh will also witness the signing of the Power Purchase and Transmission Services Agreements to enable Sierra Leone begin to benefit from the West African Power Pool Project which has its main generation hub in Còte d’Ivoire.
The TRANSCO CLSG Project is a critical component of the goal of regional integration of ECOWAS and the larger region, where energy generated by CI Energies will be transmitted and sold to substations in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea along the 1300km run of line.
It is worthy of note that Sierra Leone as a country has made tremendous strides in accomplishing its own side of the CLSG bargain, with some key substations and the process of the stringing of overhead and subterranean cables already completed.
This project will unquestionably build on the tremendous growth in the energy sector since 2018 as it will substantially increase the country’s access to energy to new heights.
Increased energy supply according to President Bio “is bound to improve the lives of Sierra Leoneans, bolster small businesses and attract much needed foreign investment.”
The New Direction administration of President Julius Maada Bio remains committed to improving the lives of Sierra Leoneans by making access to reliable and sustainable energy a priority.
Accompanying the Vice President are the Minister of Energy, Alhaji Kanja Sesay, Chairmen Boards of Directors EDSA and EGTC, Ing. Sidi Bakar and Ing. David Kamara in that order and other technical advisers.
Petty Trader Dragged to Court For Le150M Theft
By Feima Sesay.
Jeneba Jalloh a petty trader was on Monday dragged to court before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road court No 1 for allegedly stealing assorted food items valued at over 150 million Leones from one Ibrahim Kabba.
The accused made his first appearance in court and was arraigned on two counts charges of Conspiracy and Larceny contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone. According to the particulars of offence on count one it was alleged that the accused Jeneba Jalloh on Monday 15 November 2021 at No15 Krootown Road Freetown conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit Larceny.
The Police further alleged on count two that the accused on the same date in Freetown did steal assorted items to the total valued of one hundred and fifty one million four hundred and ninety six thousand Leones ( Le151,496,000/00) property of Ibrahim Kabba.
Accused pleaded not guilty on both counts. Defense lawyer I. S Kamara applied for bail on behalf of the accused person, adding that his client will not in any way jump bail and will not interfere or tamper with prosecution witnesses. He added that even though the police station is not an extension to the court but has been in police custody for more than 10 days. The Police prosecutor ASP Aminatu Daboh said she intend to take another line of action and therefore leave the bail to the discretion of the bench. Bail was granted to the accused in the sum of 500 million and two sureties in like sum who should produce their identity cards and that the bail be approved by Deputy Acting Registrar. The matter was adjourned to the 9 December 2021 for further hearing
UNIMAK Alleged Murder: Police Investigator Testifies
By Feima Sesay
The investigating office on the murder matter between the State and Elizabeth Munde Judith Kanu, Detective Police Constable 4569 Saidu Tommy Conteh has narrated the steps he took to investigate the matter.
The accused persons, Elizabeth Munde Judith Kanu is before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No 1 for Preliminary Investigation on a count of murder.
Led in evidence by Lawyer O.V Robin Mason Jr Detective police Constable 4569 Saidu Tommy Conteh recognized the accused person in the dock.
He said on the 6th September 2021, he was on duty at Mena Police Station when Rev. Father Joseph Turay vice chancellor of UNIMAK arrived with Ramash Kamara, Kaindeh sesay and Antonet Isatu Kamara to report make a report on the death of Sonia Mary Thomas.
After receiving the information, he asked the Rev. Father about the accused and he the ld him she was at her hostel. The witness said he went with Rev. Father Turay and others went to the hostel where he arrested and took her to the station.
Explaining further, the ge witness said on the 7th of September 2021, himself, the Scene of crime office detective Mathew Samura and Rev. Father Joseph Turay went to holy spirit hospital where the corpse of Sonia Mary Thomas was lying.
He said the corpse was conveyed to the regional government hospital at Makeni for post mortem.
He said they later went to Fatima campus hostel to visit the crime scene.
The witness said at the crime scene, photographs were taken and on that same date statements were obtained from complainant and witnesses. He said a requested was written and sent to the head of the scientific support unit at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters for post mortem to be conducted on the remains of the deceased. The witness said told the court that the remains of Sonia Mary Thomas was then conveyed to Connaught Hospital Mortuary for autopsy.
In continuation of his examination in chief, the witness said on the 8th of September, a post mortem examination was conducted on the remains by the government consultant pathologist Dr. Simeon Owizz Koroma in the presence of the police and relatives of the deceased.
During the Post mortem examination, photographs were taken by the crime scene officer after which original copy of the cause of death was given to the relative and photocopy to the police.
Prosecuting counsel OV Robin Mason was about to be tender when defense counsel JM Jengo object saying he did not laid the proper foundation to do same. Prosecuting Counsel O.V. Robin Mason rose to challenge the objection but was overruled by the Bench.
Leading his witness further, prosecuting counsel O.V. Robin-Mason showed the cause of death certificate to the witness which he identified as exhibit C.
The witness said on the 10th of September, voluntary statement was obtained from the accused. He produced and tendered the statement of the accused to form part of the prosecution’s case.
The witness said the matter was transferred to the Homicide Unit for further Investigations.
Testing the evidence in cross examination by defense counsel JM Jengo, the witness in a witness put to him confirmed that a request was sent for the autopsy to be conducted and that request has been in his custody.
The witness further responded that the certificate was prepared based on the investigation conducted by the police.
In another question put to him, he said during Investigation, the accused denied the allegation.
In conclusion of cross examination, Magistrate Sahr Kekura adjourned the matter to Monday 6th December for the next witness to take the stand.
