By Jeneba A Conteh
The alleged murder of personal bodyguard to Fatima Bio, Abubakar Dumbuya, came up again before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.1, where defence lawyers representing the accused, Mohamed Samura, Mohammed Lamin and Momodu Evelyn Jabbie, have opened their defence after the exhibit clerk tendered items before the court.
In his evidence, Detective Police officer, 8576 Issa Kamara, attached at the Exhibit Office Criminal Investigations Department headquarters, said some of his duties are to register all exhibits related for investigation at the station.
He recalled on 27 February, 2023, when Inspector Karim JBM handed over to him one mix colour facing cap, one small purse and a piece of stone, adding that he then registered them against serial number RCE46 /2023.
The said exhibits were tendered before the court to form part of the court records.
Lawyer Madieu Sesay for the first accused said he will do a written no case submission before the court , whiles lawyer Nylender and H. M Geavo said the second will testify before the court.
Lawyer N.Jalloh representing the third accused will also do a written no case submission.
Taking the witness stand, the second accused,Mohamed Lamin said he is a businessman and recalled on the 26 February, 2023.
He said on that day, at 11am, he went to the thanksgiving service of Saint Edwards School since he is an old boy, adding that after the service he went out with his friends to have some drinks.
Witness Lamin continued that after that he dropped his friends at lodge with his car, he went to Wilberforce to sleep.
He said the following day at 10am, he left for Kambia to see his mother who was sick and whiles returning to their home at Kambia, he saw two police officers standing at the residence of his mother.
He said the officers stopped his car and walked closely to him and asked of his name, saying that they were looking for one Kelvin, adding that they were investigating a case of murder that allegedly took place in Freetown.
He said the police officers instructed him to lead them to the house of his mother to do a search without no warrant, adding that they didn’t find anything in the room and they also searched his car.
He said in his car he was having sixteen thousand, eight hundred British Pounds Sterly, one thousand one hundred United States Dollars, including five million, one hundred old Leones.
He said the police officers took the money and they made records of it and also signed that they took such amount.
He further testified that after giving them the money they arrested his Nissan Car with registration number ATX 141, adding that the car was owned by his friend, Ramatu.
He said since then he didn’t receive his money from the police officers.
Defence counsel,Nylender, made an application that the court should made an order to the head of CID headquarters for the money taken from the accused be made available in court as the exhibit clerk ought to have tendered it before the court, but they refused
Magistrate Ngegba made an order to the head of the CID and the prosecution that the items taken from the second accused be returned to him.
He adjourned the matter to the 24 April 2023.
