Sierra Leone: Popular rapper, LAJ is in police net for an alleged physical attack and robbery on one British Sierra Leonean businessman named Osman Jalloh, commonly known as OJ. This alleged act of aggression was reportedly perpetrated by Laj’s friend – Edward Sahr James, commonly known as Junior, who according to sources was the first to attack OJ at the Swiss Hotel at Spur Road on Friday night (15th July 2021) before he was joined by Laj and 3 other guys.
Boss Laj has been arrested by the police, while conducting further investigations before possibly charging the matter to court. However, the main suspect, Junior is believed to be on the run after he was released from the Connaught Hospital where he was receiving treatment for injuries he sustained on Friday night from community boys who came to rescue OJ. He and 3 others are at large, while Laj is in cell. The victim is unsatisfied with the police for not arresting the main suspect but only detained Laj who just joined his colleagues in attacking him. He believes that the police are being biased in the whole investigation.
Osman Jalloh aka OJ who recently came to Sierra Leone from the UK on a business trip, explained what happened at the Swiss Hotel on Friday night.
He said he left Freetown in the morning hours of Friday 15 July to meet his business partners in Bo City where they transacted some precious minerals. OJ returned to Freetown the same day, carrying with him some cash, personal belongings and minerals in his bag. Upon entering Swiss Hotel to meet another business partner, he saw a vehicle approaching behind him. The main suspect Junior together with Laj were approaching him with abusive words, according to him. He was first physically assaulted by Junior before Laj and the 3 other boys joined in harassing and beating him up helplessly. According to OJ, even the few security men at the hotel couldn’t stand Laj and his friends.
They smashed the windscreen and back glass of the white range rover car he was carrying and took away his phones and bag containing the cash in dollars, passports and minerals. Jalloh explained that had it not been for the timely intervention of the youths of Lumley community, he would have been killed. He said his attackers also chased him inside the hotel where he ran to seek refuge.
Laj was in custody at the CID, but our investigation proved that he has been transferred to an unknown cell in town due to another altercation between him and the police. Efforts to reach him proved futile, as his phone was unreachable.
Meanwhile, the main suspect, Junior who was receiving treatment at the Connaught Hospital has reportedly escaped after he was released by the medical officers unknowingly. He was initially arrested together with Laj, but was later taken to the hospital for treatment. He and the 3 others are at large, only Laj is in police net.
It has been reported that the main suspect, Edward Sahr James aka Junior who is at large is currently posting passports of the victim – OJ on social media to tarnish his image. The said passports are believed to be in Jalloh’s missing bag.
Jalloh expressed disappointment over this unfortunate attack on him by unknown persons, and believe this has created insecurity for him and other meaningful investors in Sierra Leone. He believe that everyone should be safe to go about his or her business without being harassed. He reiterated that let the law be implemented on the perpetrators.
Jalloh is currently receiving treatments for injuries he sustained on his left eye and other parts of his body.