A Traffic Warden of the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) Musa A. Koroma was on Wednesday dragged to Court by an Immigration and retired Police Officer Alie Thomas Koroma on allegations of insulting him publicly while on duty.
Musa was dragged to Court while in his warden uniform and in handcuffed and according to police reports the accused was charged to Court on one count of public insult and provocation contrary section 2 of the public order act.
Particulars of offence stated that on 14th July 2016 at the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) area at Pademba road, the accused did use certain insulting words to the annoyance of the complainant Alie Thomas Koroma, Assistant Immigration Officer and also retired Police Officer of over twenty years.
According to Police Prosecutor ASP Samuel Kamara, it was an intentional act of the accused to publicly insult the complainant, a senior citizen thereby provoking him to commit the breach of the peace.
The accused was represented by nine legal luminaries including, Emmanuel Teddy Koroma, I. Caulker, A Suma, B. S. Kamara; S. M. Tarawally, T. A. Jabbie, I. F. Sawaneh, S. M. Jengo and B. D. Kargbo.
When asked by presiding Magistrate Dr. Aboubakarr Binneh Kamara why the huge lawyer representations, Lawyer E. T. Koroma informed the court that they are interested in the matter because of the injustice meted out against the accused person while executing his official and lawful duties as a Traffic Warden.
Lawyer Koroma said his client has been in detention since his arrest and while applying for bail pleaded with Magistrate Kamara to grant bail to the accused, referring to him that he is also a law student at Fourah Bay College (FBC) and has exams the following day on a paper the Magistrate is lecturing. He furthered that his client is not a flight risk as he is a responsible citizen working for a reputable government institution in the country.
Despite the passionate plea by Defense Counsel, Police Prosecutor ASP Kamara objected to bail stating that, “I acknowledge the good relationship between the Sierra Leone Police and the Traffic Warden, but as Law Officers we are trained to set precedents in society by behaving appropriately and being respectful to citizens in our line of duty. The conduct of the Traffic Warden is a clear indication of insolence and misconduct and therefore I indulge the court to set an example on the accused.”
After listening to both parties Magistrate Kamara however granted Musa A. Koroma bail in the sum of Thirty Million Leones (Le 30, 000, 000) with two sureties and was asked to produce his educational credentials to ascertain his claim of being a student.
The matter was adjourned to 17th September 2016
By Mariam S Bah
Thursday October 06, 2016
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