Sierra Leone News: Surety Incarcerated as Fullah Chief Becomes Fugitive

By Alimatu Jalloh

Following the escape of the accused, a Fullah chief of Kamakwei II, Karene District, Chief Unisa Timbo, Magistrate Hannah Bonnie of Court №1, on Friday August 23, 2019, remanded the surety, Ibrahim Kamara at the Male Correctional Center in Freetown.

The surety was arrested and brought to court by police officers after the accused failed to appear in court on several adjourned dates. The accused failed to report to court at the ending of the trial. As a result of his frequent absent in court, the magistrate invited the surety on several occasions but the surety failed to honour the invitation, which made the magistrate to prepare a warrant of arrest for him. The Police finally arrested the surety on Friday. The magistrate has therefore remanded him until August 27, 2019.

It could be recalled that the accused was granted bail on his first appearance, but he was unable to meet the bail conditions initially which made him to spend some days at the Male Correctional Center. The accused was charged to court on one count of obtaining goods (Vehicle) by false pretense contrary to law. The accused was represented by defense Lawyer F.B Conteh.

During preliminary Investigation, police called several witnesses; among them was the owner of the vehicle, Abubakarr Barrie who told the court that he got to know the accused person in December during a burial ceremony of the accused sister’s daughter.

It could be recalled that the prosecution witness, Abubakarr Barrie had testified that during the burial, the accused came to him to borrow some money. But he told the accused that he has spent his money on the burial.

The witness testified that he informed the accused that he had a vehicle which he had wanted to sell.

He told the court that when he told the accused about the vehicle, the accused told him that he wanted to buy the vehicle.

“Thereafter, both of us went to the Car Center at Syke Street where the vehicle was parked, and the accused told me that he will like to use the said vehicle to travel to his village to test it since they were going to bury the deceased in the province at their village,” he testified.

He added that he then handed the vehicle to the accused, but he did not give the life card to the accused because he had not paid for the vehicle.

“Since the accused is a crown chief at the village, he promised to pay me half of the money when we get to the village, but he did not pay me the part payment,” the witness testified.

He added that after the burial, the accused again told him to give him some time, adding that he gave some time to the accused but he did not fulfill his promise.

He said that since then, he was looking for the accused but he was nowhere to be found. He said that the accused was only caught when police chased him with warrant of arrest and brought him to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

The wife of the accused who is also one of the sureties is also on the run, as a warrant of arrest has been issued for her.