Sierra Leone News: ONS Director Testifies in Court

By Isabella Cassell

The Deputy Director of Financial Intelligence Unit, Office of the National Security (ONS), Annie Marie Harding on Tuesday August 13, 2019, testified before Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Court №1, in a matter involving one Hassan Marah who is accused of making threatening language.

The accused, Hassan Marah was incarcerated on two counts — threatening language, and public insult and provocation.

It is alleged that on Tuesday July 2, 2019, in Freetown, the accused made use of threatening languages and inductive words through Whatsapp social media to the annoyance of the complainant.

The complainant recognized the accused who was serving as a security guard to her husband, Dr. Ernest Prince Harding.

She recalled Tuesday July 2,2019, while she was in her office she received a Whatsapp voice recording audio on her phone which was sent by the accused.

She said the accused introduced himself and sent her insulting language in which the number he used has his picture as his profile. She said the message was sent on July 2, 2019, and she did not take any action on that day.

She said that on July 4, 2019, the accused sent another message which prompted her to report the matter to the police.

Annie Marie said both the messages sent by the accused carry insulting languages, threatening herself, her husband and children.

“He asked me to tell my husband to pay him off, if not I will have myself to blame, and he knows the schools my children are attending or else he will harm me, my children and my family,” she said.

She said she felt bad because the messages were not welcoming. She then reported the matter to the police.

During the cross-examination by the Defense Counsel Morrison Karimu Esq. that the messages sent could be montage, the complainant said no. She also stated that she did not contact the network operator to confirm her assertions nor did she contact the cyber unit of the police.

The formal witness, DPC 13264 Turay I. K is attached to breaking and larceny syndicate, CID headquarters in Freetown. He said he knows the accused and complainant in the matter.

Turay recalled the day in question when obtained statements from the complainants and witnesses in the matter.

He said on Monday July 15,2019, he received some developed scripted (WhatsApp messages) together with one 8GB memory stick containing Whatsapp audio messages which he handed over to the exhibit clerk.

He said on July 31, 2019 himself together with Detective Police Superintendent M.K Allieu and Detective Inspector K. Brewah arrested the accused on warrant, and on the same date they obtained contemporaneous interview from the accused and charged him with the offence of threatening languages.

Defense Lawyer, M. Karimu Esq. applied for bail on behalf of his client indicating that he has credible and reliable sureties, and has a fixed abode and will not jump bail, bringing to the notice of the Magistrate that the accused has been in custody for some time now.

Magistrate Hannah Bonnie in her discretion granted the accused bail in the sum of Le 50 million, two sureties in like sum, sureties to produce national Identity card and must be registered regular taxpayers, and that the bail must be approved by the Deputy Master and Registrar.

The matter was prosecuted by Inspector B.M Roberts, and was adjourned to Wednesday August 21, 2019.