Abdul Conteh, a Senior Secondary School (SSS) three pupil of the Saint Edwards Secondary School, is now undergoing treatment for an injury he sustained during a scuffle with some members of the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and his brother Oremi
Explaining to this press how it started, the victim said on Saturday he was at his house at No 4 Mill Street, east of the capital, when three police officers went to investigate a matter in respect of his elder brother, Oremi.
He added that the three officers: Constables (PC) 9938 Kawalloh, PC 9797 Kabia and PC 8589 Kowan violently entered their compound to arrest his brother and that in the process manhandled his brother.
The SSS three pupil noted that he then informed the police officers that he would escort his brother to the Eastern Police Station.
Abdul Conteh maintained that as tension mounted between the police and his brother, he decided to rescue his brother from the hands of the police.
He explained further that during this scuffle between the police officers and some members of his family, one of the officers Police Constable (PC) 9938 Kallawoh doused him with hot water.
He continued that he later came to the Eastern Police Station to make a statement but was rejected; adding that he again went to the Connaught Hospital but was refused treatment.
Mr Conteh noted that he was later taken to the Emergency Hospital where he was administered treatment.
Meanwhile PC 9938 Kawalloh, in his account of what transpired, said he was instructed by operations officer Sergeant McCarthy to follow up a report by one Amadu Jalloh about an attempted rape of her wife.
He said together with PC 9797 Kabia A and 8589 Kowan P visited the scene of crime where they met Oremi, armed with a stick and knife, threatening to cause damage on Mariama and her sister.
PC 9938 Kawalloh said they approached him politely after he had been identified by the husband of Mariama Barrie.
He said Oremi told them that he was not going to listen to anybody and that whosoever confronted him he would cause bodily harm on that person.
This, the police, said prompted the officers to disarm, arrest and handcuff him, adding that because of this the victim (Abdul Conteh) and so many youths within the area ganged against them and demanded that Oremi should stay.
He disclosed that the youth in large number overpowered them and so they had to call for reinforcement from the Eastern Police Station.
Before the arrival of the reinforcement, the youth had almost succeeded in snatching Oremi from the hands of the police officers.
PC 9938 explained that it was during this time that the officer heard the voice of a lady saying “they are throwing hot water on you”.
He disclosed that he then turned around in self defense when the pot of hot water which was in the hands of victim spilled on him. He added that before that the victim had bitten his back and finger.
According to Mariama Barrie, on the day in question she was in her bedroom when Oremi entered and attempted to rape her. Barrie explained that she resisted and that they had a scuffle and she shouted for her sister to rescue her from Oremi. She added that she then reported the matter to her husband who went to the police station to make a statement.