As the trial of opposition SLPP Chairman of Constituency 104 continues, two of the prosecution witnesses failed to appear in court during last Friday’s hearing in the High Court presided by Justice Browne Marke on allegation of intimidation and threatening remarks from family members of the accused.
Abdul Aziz Carew and Abdul Quee all members of the opposition SLPP stand charged with wounding of Lansana Fadika of the APC during the January Freetown City Council bye-election held in the Fourah Bay community East of Freetown. That has since been committed to the High Court.
It was the Director of CID, Alfred Karrow-Kamara who upon enquiry by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Suleiman Bah who disclosed the information to the court.
According to the CID Boss, he received a mobile phone call from two of his witnesses, Amidu Kamara and Unisa Kamara, whom he said had earlier interviewed on the said matter, reporting that they are being intimidated and threatened by supporters and family members of the accused persons that if they continue to go court to testify they will lose their lives and even have their homes burnt down. He added that the witnesses demanded that until they are assured of their security they will not come to court to testify as they are afraid for their lives and properties. The CID Boss stated that he plans to send in police officers to the area to warn the people to stop intimidating the witnesses.
Justice Browne-Mark however observed that Mr. Kamara had only received a phone call by which he cannot ascertain who he was talking to, noting that the allegation is a very serious. He maintained that had the witnesses come to court and made that allegation in evidence, he would have protected them.
The matter however continued with Osman Kabba aka Awuwa as PW4 WAS Led in evidence by the DPP. Kabba a Senior Mines Monitoring Officer stated that he was in the company of Lansana Fadika, Abdul Lamin and Algalie on the day of the incident when Abdul Aziz Carew and Abdul Quee injured Lansana Fadika and Abdul Lamin alias Amerikin.
He maintained that Abdul Aziz stabbed Lansana Fadika along Davies Street as Abdul Aziz pretended to apologize to Lansana Fadika as he bowed at Fadika’s feet with the words in the local Krio, “Omorjuba” meaning I am sorry. He said Aziz used traditional horn to stab Fadika on his leg.
According to the witness, Abdul Aziz and his boys ran into Aziz’s compound about six houses from the spot where Fadika was stabbed. He said that they were restricted from entering the compound but they forced their way in order to arrest Aziz and that it was in the course of the commotion that the second accuse,Abdul Quee used a old ironing instrument to hit Abdul Lamin alias Amerikin on his hand, which forced him and his colleagues to take both Lansana and Amerikin to the Cottage Hospital and then to the Connaught Hospital for treatment.
Lawyer A.Y. Brewah renewed his bail application for both accused persons.
Justice Browne-Mark however did not grant the bail application stating that he will consider the bail application when the matter comes up next. The accused were therefore remanded in custody. The matter comes up on Monday 13 February 2012.
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