Abdulai Melvin Conteh, a business tycoon has been dragged to court by Cecilia Christian Mattia who alleged that he trespassed on her land lying and situated at Peninsula Road.

The accused was arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura on one count of Trespass, contrary to Section 15 (1) (6) of the Public Order Act no.46 of 1965.

The charge sheet states that the accused, between 1st January 2016 and 3rd December 2020 at Peninsula Road in Freetown unlawfully entered into the land of Cecilia Christian Mattia.

After the charges were read to him, the accused pleaded not guilty of the offence.

Defense counsel, Hindolo Gavao, made an application for bail on behalf of the accused. He made this application pursuant to Section 79(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965. He noted in his application that the accused had no intention to jump bail and that he had a fair chance of winning the case in court.

The prosecutor, A.S.P Hawa Daboh, said she did not see an affidavit in the file that is oppose to bail.

Magistrate Sahr Kekura granted the accused Fifty million leones bail and one surety in like sum. The surety was required to provide a valid national identification card and the bail was to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.

The matter comes up on the 26th August 2021.