A Call For Investigation Of Professionalism Of Waterloo Police
By Mahmud Tim Kargbo
Saturday, 5 October, 2024
The recent daylight robbery in Kerry Town has unveiled alarming deficiencies in the professionalism and integrity of the investigative unit at the Waterloo Police Station. This incident has garnered significant attention from the local community, prompting residents to demand media scrutiny on the troubling relationships between the local headman, Ibrahim Sorie Mansaray (alias Orga), his associates, and the police force. Many community members perceive the headman as receiving undue protection, creating an environment that further marginalises vulnerable residents.
In the aftermath of the robbery, victims escalated their complaints regarding unfair treatment by Local Unit Commander, Joe Kamanda Bongay, and Operations Officer, Tamba James Mbaina, to the Complaints, Discipline and Internal Investigations Department (CDIID) of the Sierra Leone Police. This escalation has not gone unnoticed by the highly disciplined Inspector General of Police and his Deputy, who have called for a comprehensive investigation—first by the Waterloo Police, and subsequently, by the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters (CID) or the Regional Branch Headquarters at Ross Road, and later, the file will be taken to the Law Officers Department for legal advice. Victims expressed hope that these developments would lead to a more professional handling of their case and an elevated standard of policing in Waterloo.
Despite the Inspector General’s proactive approach, evidence indicates that Commander Bongay and Officer Mbaina may be attempting to obscure their misconduct. Reports suggest that on September 23, 2024, Mbaina was seen collaborating with one of the alleged robbers, Sorie Kamara (alias Scartel), to fabricate a counter report against the victims at the I-Branch in Waterloo. This raises serious questions about the integrity of the investigative process. Notably, the victims reported the robbery on September 16, but were not made aware of the counter report until a week later, after they had escalated their complaints regarding unfair treatment to the CDIID. Such delays in communication imply a possible intent to undermine the victims’ claims and manipulate the narrative.
The investigation took another concerning turn on September 28, when the police and victims visited the crime scene. It was noted that the alleged robbers were not present at the police station before the investigative team departed, yet the headman, who claimed he was not involved in the attack, was found waiting at the crime scene on a motorbike, and went on to even identify the exact crime scene, together with the victims. This orchestrated appearance raises significant concerns about the police’s investigative methods and their willingness to engage in misconduct. Victims, who had been assaulted while on their way from mediating a land dispute in the centre of Kerry Town, were understandably hesitant to assist the police in their inquiry when asked to visit another unrelated plot of land mentioned in the attackers’ counter report, fearing further victimisation.
Subsequent police actions included a trip to another location where the alleged larceny supposedly occurred, based on a counter report filed by headman Orga and his associates. The police discovered a dilapidated house, stripped off doors and windows, allegedly by the victims, complicating the narrative further. It is crucial to recognise that the victims’ claims of robbery and the alleged robbers’ counter report of larceny and wounding, are unrelated. The cooperation between the police and the alleged robbers raises suspicions about the motivations of local law enforcement, and raises the following questions:
Assuming the allegations of the alleged daylight armed robbers against the victims are right, who are the robbers to the land they took the police to, are they party to the land? Who asked them to defend the said land when there’s an existing injunction on the land? Are the alleged daylight armed robbers aware that there’s another existing case of arson against the victims on the same house they allegedly said the victims removed doors and windows from? Considering the fact that there’s an existing injunction on the said land, when were these doors and windows fixed by the alleged owner of the house?
Days after the robbery, Officer Tamba James Mbaina reportedly mentioned, in a conversation with a colleague, that he had been contacted by headman Ibrahim Sorie Mansaray before the attack, and he gave instructions to target the victims. Residents of Kerry Town reported that Orga and his team had declared their intent to kill three individuals: Sheriff Bah, Alie Badara Bangura, and Mohamed Fahnbulleh.
The frustrations of Kerry Town residents underscore a pervasive fear stemming from the belief that Orga’s lawlessness is sustained by the protection he receives from the Waterloo Police. This sentiment reflects a broader atmosphere of intimidation, where locals feel powerless against potential retaliation from Orga and his associates. The perception that the police are not acting in the community’s best interests, exacerbates this fear.
Additionally, Officer Mbaina’s conduct has come under scrutiny. In discussions with colleagues, he stated that civilians had arrested the motorbikes involved in the case, yet he failed to clarify the legal basis for such actions or made a statement to support same. This lack of accountability raises further questions. If the motorbikes were reported stolen at the Waterloo Police Station, how could civilians possess the authority to seize them? Inconsistencies in the police account only deepen the community’s distrust.
Furthermore, Commander Bongay canceled an initial trip by the investigating team to visit the crime scene, and after being briefed by his Crime Officer and the victims about Retired AIG Patrick A. T. Johnson’s people currently working on the disputed land between him and Mohamed Fahnbulleh, he allegedly assured them that he would remove individuals placed on the land by Retired AIG Patrick A. T. Johnson. This appears to be an attempt to deliberately destroy evidence and protect Johnson from potential contempt of court actions. The matter between Retired Patrick A. T. Johnson and Mohamed Fahnbulleh is under consideration by the High Court of Sierra Leone, thus the police have no jurisdiction to interfere without a direct order from the court.
Moreover, a counter report allegedly made by a Pa Sawyerr on behalf of the Johnson family, introduces further complications. Given an existing court injunction concerning the land in question, the police’s failure to pursue contempt charges against him, raises serious questions about their enforcement of the law, highlighting systemic issues within the Waterloo Police Station.
The handling of the Kerry Town daylight robbery by the Waterloo Police Station underscores an urgent need for reform and accountability. The unprofessional conduct exhibited by Commander Bongay and Officer Mbaina fundamentally undermines the principles of justice that law enforcement is meant to uphold. As the Inspector General of Police takes steps to address these issues, it is vital for the Waterloo Police not only to conduct a thorough investigation of the robbery, but also to confront the systemic failures that have permitted such unprofessionalism to persist. The residents of Kerry Town and surrounding areas deserve a policing system that prioritises their safety and rights, free from corruption and collusion.