Former Minister To Be Transferred To Main Correctional Centre
By Alhaji Turay
The High Court No.1 of Sierra Leone has ordered the correctional services to transfer the former Minister Bai Mahmoud Bangura to the main Correctional Centre at Pademba Road in relation to the charges put before the 12 accused persons.
On 11th January 2024, one Detective Sergeant Abubakar, attached at CID headquarters, Pademba Road, Freetown, came with an order of arrest.
1:Amadu koita was on 2 counts of treason, 6 counts of murder and shooting with the intent to kill, 2: Mohamed Jalloh, 2 counts of treason 6 counts of murder and shooting with intent to kill, 3: sergeant 10020 Emmanuel Salifu kamara, Misprison of treason, 4: Ramatu kamara, she was arrested for the offence of Misprision of treason 5: Alimatu Hassan Bangura 2 counts of Misprision of treason and harboring, 6: Hassan Leigh 2 counts of Misprision of treason and unauthorized wearing of military uniforms, 7: Mohamed Wordie was charged with 2 counts of treason, 8 Bai Mahmoud Bangura who was at the Kingtom Police Hospital in very critical condition, was charged with 2 counts of Misprision, treason and harbouring. No medical report was produced on his first appearance, 9: ASP Ibrahim Sesay was arrested for Misprison of treason and harbouring, 10:Tamba Yamba was arrested for 2 counts of treason and murder, 11: kabba kamara for 2 counts of treason and murder, 12: Abdul Sorie Hassan Kamara arrested for 2 counts of treason and murder.
According to Justice Komba Kamanda, based on his blood pressure situation, within 6 to 7 days, Bai Mahmoud Bangura should be committed to the main correctional services.
Dr. John m. Conteh attached at the Kingtom Police Hospital as the Deputy Director and Medical Superintendent at the Sierra Leone Police, who explained the critical condition of Bai Mahmoud Bangura that on the 31st December 2023, by 8:00 am he sustained severe headache and blood pressure and was also bleeding, the blood pressure shot up to 20014/102, and handed over the medical report to the court.
According to justice Komba Kamanda, that he have heard the knowledge of listening to all legal counsel who is representing their clients and has taken into consideration, but with respect to the state of 8 accused, Bai Mahmoud Bangura, the court cannot put a date for trial in the absence of one of the accused person, and adjourned the matter for his appearance in the next hearing date, adding that the notice of the warrant still stands. The court also ordered the correctional services to provide better medical facilities for the other inmates because their legal counsels made complaints about the medical facilities, stressing that they should be allowed access to their clients according to the law
The matter was adjourned to 16 January 2023.
The 12 accused persons: Amadu koita, Makolo Mohamed Jalloh, Sergeant 10020 Emmanuel Salifu kamara, Ramatu Kamanda Conteh, Alimatu Hassan Bangura, Hassan Leigh, Mohamed Wordie, Bai Mahmoud Bangura, ASP Ibrahim Sesay, Tamba Yamba Kabba Kamara, and Abdul Sorie Hassan Kamara are standing before the court for treason and other related offences, Director of Public Prosecutor, Osman Kanu, AJM Bockarie, A Jalloh, AV Koroma and T.B Zizer are prosecuting, while counsels Musa Pious Sesay. MM Kamara and AF Sesay, Ade Macaulay, Brima Koroma, A Bah, SA Conteh, NK Kamara and a battery of other lawyers defending.