Sierra Leone: Police Sergeant Abdul Dumbuya with force number 5792 attached to the Mountain Division on Monday 14th June 2021, testified against four accused persons who were charged in connection with the Regent alleged murder.
Ibrahim Koroma alias “TBK” Augustine Joseph Alie, Alhaji Kamara alias force and Alfred Mbayo were arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at the Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 on Pademba Road after police alleged that on Thursday 22nd April 2021, at Guma gate, Regent murdered one Kebbie Sawaneh.
The accused persons were faced with one count charge of murder contrary to law.
In his testimony in court, Police witness, Detective Sergeant Abdul Dumbuya recognized all the accused persons in the dock as well as the complainant (Kebbie Sawaneh) whom he said is now deceased.
He recalled on Friday 23rd April 2021, at around 1400 hours, while he was on duty at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) a case and inquiry file of wounding with intent which resulted to murder was handed over to him from Regent Police Post together with all accused persons to continue investigation.
He continued that the case and inquiry file contained voluntary cautioned statement of the second accused, and an abstract report of a case of wounding. The said voluntary caution statement of the second accused was tendered in court to form part of the Court’s records.
Detective Dumbuya added that he obtained statement from complaint (Alimamy Thoronka) and three witnesses. On the 23rd April 2021, Detective Dumbuya said he and Detective Sergeant 10601 Ma’Cathy A.J further interviewed the second accused. Detective Dumbuya tendered the additional voluntary cautioned statement for it to form part of the Court records.
He further that himself and Detective Sergeant 10749 Conteh M. M later interviewed the fourth accused and the third accused whom he questioned and cautioned in krio and responses were recorded in English. The voluntary cautioned statement was also tendered in court.
He said he and a scene of crime officer, Detective Sergeant 9546 Conteh H, and the deceased elder brother visited the scene of crime at GUMA gate, Motomeh in Regent where the accused persons allegedly beat the deceased and later returned to the station. “We searched for exhibits but couldn’t find any,” he disclosed.
He also disclosed that when he and his team returned to the station, he sent a request to the government pathologist for the deceased to be examined. Copy of the request which he sent to the pathologist was also tendered in court.
“At 10 am on the same day, at the Connaught Hospital Mortuary, the government consultant pathologist Professor Babatunde Duduyemi, conducted a postmortem examination on the deceased in my presence and the scene of crime officer, Sergeant 9546 Conteh H. While the pathologist was conducting the postmortem, Sergeant Conteh took snap shots of the deceased,” he revealed.
He also revealed that after the postmortem, a certificate of cause of death was handed over to him. On the same date 26th April 2021, Sergeant Dumbuya and Sergeant 10740 Conteh M.M interviewed the first accused whom he cautioned and questioned and made responses in krio.
On the 27th April 2021, he and Detective Sergeant 10740 interviewed the third accused, and the cautioned statement was tendered in court.
At this stage, the Magistrate requested for an adjournment. He sent all accused persons to jail and he adjourned the matter to the 16th June 2021.