Mariatu Bangura, a senior government nurse was dragged to court on a bench warrant after failing to make her first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Magistrate Court No.1 in Freetown.

Mariatu Bangura is before the court on a private summon file of five counts of charges of abusive language, intimidation, public insult, provocation, and common assault mat threatening language.

It was alleged that Mariatu Bangura on the 15th of March 2023 at No.10 New Site, Jui make use of abusive language against the complainant Joya Reevs with the intent to provoke her to commit a breach of peace.

The accused when questioned about her absence on the first day of sitting informed the bench that she was on duty helping the doctor she is attached to for surgery.

Defense Counsel M Turay applied for the bench warrant against his client to be revoked and further applied for bail for and on behalf of his client because she is a Sierra Leonean ordinarily resident in Freetown. Among other things, the defense counsel said if granted bail, his client will not interfere with a witness(s).
He made the application citing Section 79 of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.

Having heard the bail application made by defense counsel, Magistrate Sahr Kekura, however, granted the accused bail for one hundred thousand Leones with a surety in like sum. He said the surety should produce an identification card depicting his or her address in Freetown.

Magistrate Sahr Kekura further ordered that the bail of the accused should be approved by the Deputy Acting Registrar and the matter was adjourned to the 10th May 2023 for the complainant to testify.