In relation to a matter of child kidnapping that occurred on the 5th September 2016 at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital (PCMH) commonly known as Cottage Hospital in Freetown, Hassan Conteh Alias Father, on Tuesday 8th November 2016 testified before Principal Magistrate Dr. Binneh Kamara of Court No.1 at the Siaka Street court in Freetown.
In his testimony, he explained that he works at the Cottage Hospital as a Security and also claimed that he knows the first accused Phyllis Stevens who is a nurse at the said hospital and that he only came across the second accused on the day the incident happened.
He said he was on duty on that day after taking over from his colleague by 7:30 in the morning hours when the first accused came to him and told him that she had sent somebody outside and that if she comes back he should allow her to enter by calling her name. He said about some minutes when the first accused left the scene the second Accused Regina Stevens then arrived. ”I told her to wait” he said. He further said that the first accused then appeared at the scene and instructed him to allow the second accused to enter.
“I later followed them and met the second accused with the child and a discharge card in her hand,” he said. At that time the first accused called on another lady unknown to accompany the second accused for a vaccination also known as ‘marklate’ on the child. He said he then went to the wards to do checking and upon his arrival he heard strange noises at Ward Four (4). He said when asked what was the matter he was told that a child was missing in the ward. “I immediately urged them to check themselves as they were the only people in the ward” he said.
The witness said he then made a report to the Eastern Police Station the following day.
During the cross examination the witness claimed that he normally goes round the hospital to do checking on all the wards to see that there is no cause to complain. He said such an incident had never happened during the six years of service he had rendered to the hospital. The defense Lawyer Elvis Kargbo said that there are other sets of questions for another cross examination for the second witness. The matter was adjourned to the 17th November 2016 for further cross examination.
By Sidique Fofanah (Intern)
Wednesday November 09, 2016
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