The Fourah Bay College riot case in which four people, Hendry Lebbie, Richard Fonjah, Maada Boima and Jessie Jengo stand accused, continued in the Freetown Magistrate Court No. 2 presided over by Komba Kamanda, yesterday, Tuesday, 27th February 2012.
The accused persons stand charged with five counts ranging from riotous conduct, public insult and provocation, throwing missiles, incitement and obstruction. The matter is being prosecuted by Sergeant Jah who at yesterday’s proceeding called on their 1st prosecuting witness, 5836 Isaac Samura attached to the Central Police Station to testify.
Testifying, the officer recognized all accused persons in the dock and recalled the 21st February 2012. He said he and some personnel of the Sierra Leone Police including his boss ASP Musa Bangura left the station to monitor the election at Fourah Bay College upon the instruction of the LUC CSP Bakarr S. Koroma. He explained that upon their arrival at the college campus they were deployed at seven different pooling stations. He said while they waited for the voting to start, some students were grumbling that NEC officials were delaying the start of the election. He said it was after this that the students started using abusive languages at the police officers while others were inciting their companions.
The 1st accused person, Hendry Lebbie was with a megaphone apparently announcing that students should not allow the election to go on. “I was then instructed by my boss to arrest him and he was taken to the central police station,” the 1st accused said.
The election, he recalled, started at 13:00 hours and some students were grumbling about the time and they refused to queue in the line. He said 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused persons started stoning the police, and that he was instructed by his boos identify the direction from where the stones were coming. The direction was identified, he said, but as they advanced to the area, he said the students ran away, but he said they were able to apprehend the four at the Kennedy Building on FBC campus. He said the culprits were later taken to the Kennedy Building on FBC campus.
After his testimony he was cross examined by Lawyer Kelfala who was the lead Counsel defending the accused persons. The bail conditions still continue while the matter was adjourned to 8th March 2012.
By Nancy Koroma
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