In his second appearance before Magistrate Sahr E. Kekura of Magistrate Court No 1 on Pademba Road in Freetown, on the 22nd June 2022, Alhaji Amadu Bah alias LAJ was again refused bail and sent on remand. He was before the Court to answer to four Counts including Robbery with Violence and Assault occasioning Actual Bodily Harm.
In court, one of the witnesses who identified himself as a Pump Attendant, Ishmael Kamara (PW1) said he is an employee of Leonco Fuel Station on Water Street at Congo Cross in Freetown and admitted knowing Francess Wilson as a colleague.
“I know the accused person. He is a popular Sierra Leone musician,” he said, recounting that, “I remember Sunday the 12th June 2022. I was on duty at Water Street Leonco fuel station. Something happened between myself and the accused person.”
He continued that on that very Sunday around 3 O Clock, his colleagues Musa and Francess were at work at the fuel station and a black Ford vehicle without a number plate came into the fuel station.
According to him, the vehicle parked in front of Francess’ machine (Pump 2), and the driver alighted and asked why Francess why was sitting down.
He added how the driver, Ishmael, came down and said he wanted Five Hundred Thousand Leones (Le. 500,000) Petrol but he was asked by Christiana to park properly and he did as instructed.
Ishmael Kamara told the court how a man in the same vehicle by the name of Buju started arguing with the pump attendant (Francess) asking her why she was sitting down idling to which Francess immediately responded by saying there was no vehicle to sell to.
According to Ishmael Kamara, Buju accused Francess of being lazy telling her to be up and seen working as no pump attendant should be seen sitting.
He continued that another who was with LAJ, popularly known as Isho and was the driver stated, “da timberland boot way you wear you go kill am ooo.”
Ishmael said he stated that the accused should come and speak a language Francess will understand and during the process, the accused alighted the vehicle and came to where Francess was and leaned on the vehicle where Francess was pumping the fuel.
He continued that he overheard Buju saying to Francess, “you are a prostitute and after sleeping out all night you only come here to sit down.”
He told the Court that Ishmael said, “you should fucking remove the pump from the vehicle and we will not fucking pay you.”
Ishmael said Francess removed the hose from the vehicle after pumping 27 liters with some points adding that Musa, his colleague, came and told them that what they were doing is not right saying since she is a woman they should stop insulting her.
He said LAJ was quick to scold Musa for making the cautioning statement and punched him in the face which led Musa to fall down.
The witness continued that during the scuffle Ishmael then grabbed the sales bag from Musa and that was when one Daniel Kallie, the Manager of Leonco came to the scene.
He said the Manager then held on to the bag adding that when Christiana removed her phone to film what was going on, the accused rushed at her and scolded her.
“Christiana sent the phone to me and I placed it inside my sales bag,” he told the Court disclosing that LAJ, Buju and Ishmael and one unknown person rushed and scolded him violently.
He said he was unable to breathe as a result he let go of the sales bag because the accused constantly held on to his throat.
“LAJ took the phone from my bag and the money, Four Million Two Hundred Thousand Leones (Le 4,200,000). The accused and Ishmael also threatened to come to burn down the station,” he said adding that they entered the Ford vehicle and drove off.
He said by then Musa had gone to the Congo Cross Police Station and brought a truckload of Police Officers.
He said the assailants were traced with a Police van and were caught on Kissy Road close to the cemetery where the Police instructed that he alight the vehicle and join them in a Police van.
The witness said thereafter they moved to the Congo Cross Police Station and statements were obtained during which a medical report was issued to him.
LAJ, the accused person in the matter was represented by IP Mamie Esq., Madieu Sesay Esq, Alfred Kamanda Esq, and others. State Counsel, Yusif Isaac Sesay prosecuted and strongly opposed the bail application made.
The matter will come up again on Tuesday, 28th June, 2022.
