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Sergeant Mack Fawundu, a Detective Police has on Thursday 17th August 2023 tendered before magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road No1 the charge statements of Alpha Sheriff ‘alias Sheriff APC’ and 8 others for allegedly operating a private security service without legal license.
The accused standing trial on four counts charges ranging from operating a private security service without license, possession of small arms without license, having in control of small arms without license and unlawful concealment of arms all contrary to law.
According to the police, the accused on Wednesday 7th June 2023, at Bo Town, were found operating a private security service name SAMU-COCO security service without valid license.
The police further alleged on count two that the first accused Alpha Sheriff and Alhassan Kamara were found in possession of one grey and black Taurus arms revolver pistol with serial number ACB 569232(856) without license.
The charge sheet further, that the first accused person unlawful concealed the said revolver pistol.
The police witness led in further evidence by Chief Superintendent of police Juan Bull said on Thursday 20 July 2023, he charged all the accused persons with the offence of operating a private security service without license. Whiles the said Alpha Sheriff alias Sheriff APC was charge with the offences of possession of small arms without license, having in control of small arms without license and unlawful concealment of arms contrary to law.
The charge statements were produced and tendered in court respectively to form par the prosecution’s case.
The charge statements were produced and tendered in court respectively to form part of the prosecution’s case.
Defense lawyer Joseph Fizgerald Kamara cross examined the witness and whether he recalled obtaining statement from 1st accused, he said yes.
Lawyer Kamara suggested to the witness that he did not investigate the matter, the witness in response said he did, and confirm that three of the accused persons were not drivers as they alleged.
When he was asked whether he asked any of the accused to produce their driver’s license he said no.
The witness said he charged them base on the evidence adduce and denied having their driver’s license at and could not tell whether his colleagues have it
He denied having their driver’s license at CID and could not tell whether his colleagues have it because he did not check.
When he was question as to whether he verified that the revolver was license, he said a request was written to the small arms commission for verification as to whether the pistol was license.
Lawyer Kamara further put it to the witness that on the date when the accused persons were arrest he was not present, he said yes he was not present but charge them base on the evidence adduced.
He also put it to the witness that the accused never operated a security company the witness said it was a support group and not a security service.
He put it to the witness that, in the statement of first accused and others, they said they were arrested with 8 bags of rice and gallons of oil the witness said so he heard but did not received any of items mentioned.
He put it to the witness that, in the statement of first accused and others, they said they were arrested with 8 bags of rice and gallons of oil, the witness said so he heard but did not received any of items mentioned.
The witness also told the court in cross examination that he is not familiar with any support group attached to political parties.
Lawyer Kamara put it to the witness that the accused persons were exercising their political right to support any party, the witness in reply said the accused persons were in uniform and that the description of the uniform is brown T- shirt, black trousers and black boot.
He also asked whether he saw the uniforms, he said he did and it is with the exhibit clerk.
The witness confirmed knowing the first accused.
Lawyer Kamara suggested to the witness the revolver was planted on the first accused by
Lawyer Kamara suggested to the witness that the revolver was planted on the first accused by the police; he said no it was not.
The prosecutor informed the court that she has one more witness to close their case.
Lawyer Kamara renewed his application for bail, adding that the court has listened to 75% of the prosecution case and that it is clear that the investigation could not show whether the 8th accused persons did operate a security company.
Magistrate Ngegba refused bail on the grounds that he wants to listen to the entire evidence and the matter was adjourned to the 23rd August 2023.
