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Pastor Ruth Jattu Turay, 43-year-old Pastor, made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of the Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown on two count charges, trespass contrary to Section 15(1)(a) of the Public Order Act No.46 of 1965 and malicious damage contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861.
The particulars of offense state that on Friday, 17th January, 2025 at No.1 Jay’s Mongegba Village along the Grafton Freetown highway, the accused did enter in the land of Complainant, Mabinty Bangura, acting on behalf of the Christ Embassy Church, when required not to do so.
Count two states that on the same date and time, the accused maliciously damaged one building used as a Church, valued at Ninety Thousand Leones (NLe90,000.00), property of Christ Embassy Church.
Inspector I. S. Mansaray led in evidence Witness No.1, Mabinty Bangura, a social security officer.
According to the witness, she came to know the accused through her contractor, Ibrahim Lebbie. She went on to recall sometime in March 2024, when her Pastor, Cynthia asked her to find a place where they could use for holding church services, upon which she said, Mr. Lebbie took her to the accused at the Mongegba Community where the accused showed them a plot of land near her own house.
The witness continued that the place had a building already. The witness said she told the accused that they wanted to rent the place for church purposes, but that the accused said as long as it is for church activities she will not demand fees from them. But she explained that the small portion of land was for sale at the sum of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Leones (Le 170,000), but their Pastor negotiated for Ninety thousand Leones (Le 90,000).
The witness added that on the 17th January, 2025, she received a telephone call that the building was being demolished and she remembered the accused telling her that they will no longer sell the property.
According to the witness, when she arrived at the scene, she discovered the roof and ceiling of the building have been removed. She said she was encouraged by the Pastor to report the matter to the police station, which she did. Bail was denied due to the seriousness of the matter, and was adjourned to the 30th April, 2025
The headline of the news is deceiving. Was the pastor the accused? The amount of money in words doesn’t coincide with the figures: 170,000 instead of Le 120, 000.