Rtd Capt. Abubakarr Mandereh Kamara was yesterday invited by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for questioning relating to an alleged assault and malicious damage to government property brought against him by Mrs. Isata Jabbie-Kabbah, wife of former President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah.
It is not known whether Mandereh was detained or not after the questioning.
According to the head of CID, Ibrahim Koroma, a little over a week ago, they received information about a meeting at the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) headquarters following which a complaint was made by Mrs. Kabbah alleging assault and malicious damage and naming Mandereh, Angela, ‘SLA’ and Eddie Murphy as prime suspects in the allegation.
The damage is alleged to have been occasioned on a government vehicle allocated to former President Kabbah.
Mr. Koroma informed that they have almost completed investigations with statements obtained from witnesses corroborating the allegation. He said it had been difficult to access the suspects to make statements.
Koroma maintained that Mandereh’s appearance was facilitated by Rtd. Brig. Maada Bio to whom it was reported to them that the suspects are providing close protection security. He disclosed that he had to send an SMS message to Brigadier Bio on Friday, 9th August 2013 informing him about the allegation against the four suspects believed to be with him and requesting his assistance in making them available.
Koroma said Rtd. Brigadier Bio had promised to collaborate with the CID upon receipt of the SMS but nothing in terms of keeping to his promise materialized. He said he waited throughout Friday and Saturday but nothing happened.
“I had to send another SMS reminder on Sunday; waited for several hours again but did not see anyone of the suspects,” Koroma stated, adding that it was following this apparent non-compliance that he opted for a Warrant of Arrest for the suspects and sent officers to Brigadier Bio’s office and residence.
He however stated that even though the police officers had authentic Warrant of Arrests at hand, “they did not enter either the office or the residence because the warrant was limited to arresting the suspects if seen and accessed, but not to enter any premises.”
Displaying the SMS, he had earlier sent to Brigadier Bio on Friday and Sunday, Koroma refuted Bio’s claim that he had promised to send in the suspects on Monday and not on Friday as claimed by the CID boss.
By Alhaji M. Kamara
August 13, 2013
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