It was a dream comes true for family members, sympathizers and supporters when Magistrate Komba Kamanda of Magistrate Court No.2 granted bail to Aziz Carew, SLPP Constituency 104 Chairman who was remand last Friday for allegedly stabbing Lansana Fadika a former SLPP Western Area Chairman.
The court room was barricaded by armed OSD officers and some were deployed at the entrance busy searching bags and individuals entering the court room.
Before the Magistrate took his seat, the court room had already been filled with family members, party supporters, members of the press and both defending and prosecuting lawyers.
Dressed in green and white pyjamas, Aziz Carew virtually unable to walk was carried by one prison officer inside the court and made to sit inside the witness box.
Prosecution Lawyer, G.J. Soyee asked for an adjournment stating that their witnesses (complainants) have not yet recovered from their injuries. He informed that the prosecution is even considering taking other line of action on the matter.
Lead Defense lawyer, Sulaiman Banja Tejan-Sie, noted that since the prosecution have stated that the complainants are yet to recover from their injuries, he proffered that the accused person is equally seriously ill and requires urgent medical attention.
The second accused he explained, has not changed his head dress since last Friday. He maintained that they are able and ready to proceed with the matter, noting that an adjournment is merely to delay the course of the matter. He disclosed that they the prosecution have other witnesses like the police with whom they can proceed.
He maintained that the assertion made by the prosecution that the complainant has not recovered yet was not supported by any medical evidence, and that given the circumstance, he will like to renew the application for bail for the accused persons.
Lawyer Soyee objected, stating that he will adopt the Attorney General and Minister of Justice’s earlier objections.
A marathon argument and counter argument ensued between the prosecution and defense surrounding the issue of medical report establishing the veracity of the complainants’ absence and the lack of treatment for the accused while on remand and their need for urgent medical attention.
Magistrate Komba Kamanda granted bail to each of the accused in the sum of Le 200, 000, 000 (two hundred million Leones) with two sureties in like sum who must be resident in the Western Area. He noted that the continuous detention of the accused persons is not right in the line of justice, particularly where no evidence have been read. The matter comes up Wednesday, 1st February 2012.
ADVERTISEMENT