Lahai Lawrence Leema, National Publicity Secretary of the Sierra Leone People’s Party, did not make his second Court appearance on Friday as the Correctional Service in Freetown boycotted Court sittings. On Friday, an official from the Correctional Service informed the Court that prisoners would not make it to Court that morning. The reason for such action was not clear to the Court.
Lead defence counsel, A.Y. Brewa applied that the Court issue a warrant for the Head of the Correctional Service to come and explain why prisoners were not present in Court. Secondly, he also applied that a Production Order be made for the accused to be brought to Court. The defence team of over 20 lawyers was willing to wait for the accused to be brought to court. However the presiding Magistrate Albert Moody adjourned the matter to Monday 20 November 2017.
Prior to the adjournment, the Magistrate took a 20-minute stand down of the matter to consult with the Master and Registrar of the Court or the Chief Justice on his decision regarding the application. Neither the Master and Registrar or Chief Justice were available. The Magistrate said he does not want to make an order that will be revoked.
On 14 November 2017, Leema was brought before the Court to answer to 11 charges in two separate police files. According to first police file, it is alleged that on 6 November 2017; Leema physically assaulted, acted disorderly and used threatening language on Franklyn Rogers.
In the second file, it is alleged that on the said date, Leema assaulted and used threatening language on Gerald Sesay and Joseph Kowa and six other staff at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) building in Freetown. Leema is charged with assault, disorderly behaviour and trespassing by the Inspector General of Police. The accused denied the said allegations levied against him.
ES/18/11/17
By Edna Smalle
Monday November 20, 2017.
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