Joseph Bonya a security officer at the Sierra Leone Peoples Party Head Quarters at Wallace Johnson Street in Freetown has testified against Foday Mansaray commonly known as Foday government wharf who was charged to court as a result of the attack on the SLPP office. Joseph Bonya in his testimony on Wednesday 8th, April at court No.1 presided over by Magistrate Steven Conteh said on the 16th March 2009 he was on duty at the party office when a group of angry men emerged from the back of the office and gathered in front of the SLPP building.
According to the witness the men who were led by Foday government wharf made threatening remarks that they went there to deal with supporters of the SLPP who had disrespected the Mayor of Freetown, Habert George Williams.
The witness went on to say that the angry men started throwing stones at him and others in the party office and they too reciprocated in like manner. As the stoning went on the attackers overpowered the SLPP supporters in the compound and some of the SLPP supporters including him went into the office to hide.Foday and his men entered the office and started beating them mercilessly. Joseph Bonyua said he was tortured and dragged from the second floor of the building to the ground floor where Police officers rescued them and they were taken to the CID Headquarters.
The witness told the court that he sustained serious injuries and he went to Connaught hospital for treatment. After treatment he returned to the CID to where he made a statement to the police.
Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecution, Oladipo Robin Mason was unable to proceed with his case against 22 SLPP supporters standing trial in the same court. The DPP told the court that his witnesses from the CID were not prepared to make any statement because they were not informed early about their appearance in court. He asked for an adjournment to enable him put his case together. In response defence lawyer for the 22 accused persons, Eke Halloway urged the DPP to proceed with the matter.
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