Testifying to the court, Dr. Soccoh Kabia (the complainant) identified himself as a physician consultant who only recognizes the accused in this matter. Added that on Thursday 3rd July, 2014, he woke up in the morning hours at about 2 am, while watching TV, and heard a huge sound outside his house.
“I quickly look through the window and eventually; I saw a group of young guys in front of my gate” Dr. Soccoh said. He maintained that he went on to ask them what they were doing there, but that none of them answered.
He explained to the court that after which he started screaming and shouting thieves, thieves and the next thing he heard was the young guys were trying to force their way through the front door.
“I kept on shouting and later I took my phone to make a call, I succeeded in making two calls but the recipients did not answer their calls” Dr. Kabia said. He went on to say the thieves finally force their way into his house and continuously assaulted him for over 30 minutes.
He disclosed that they hit him on his face and all over his body, and later lifted him up towards his bedroom and then asked him for his wife, he reiterated that there was one particular guy among them, who was speaking, while the rest were silence during the process.
“They asked me to give them money and I showed them some money which was on the table about forty thousand Leones and they then asked me for my laptop, they took my laptop, iPod, iphone and other items worth us US$869 dollars equivalent to le22, 580, 000, they put a knife to my throat, ripped off my bracelet from my hand which I inherited from my mother. I then pleaded for my life” Dr. Kabia explained.
He told the court that he could not tell the exact number of people who attacked him, adding that he lied on the floor and they went outside for several minutes and they continued beating him and later they had to remove his trousers.
The accused were slammed a six count charge – Count-one, conspiracy contrary to law, count-two – robbery with aggravation contrary to section 23(1) (a) of the larceny Act 1916 as repealed and replaced by Section 2 of Act No 16 of 1971, Count-three causing grievous bodily harm contrary to Section 18 of the offence Against the persons Act 1861, Count-four – wounding contrary to Section 20 of the offences Against the persons Act of 1861 and Count-five assault occasioning actual bodily harm (A.O.B.H) contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against the Persons Act,186, Count-Six receiving stolen goods contrary to Section 33(1)of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The matter is being prosecuted by Sergeant 922 Dumbuya John and the defense Lawyers are Lawyer C.F. Edwards and E.T. Koroma.
The matter was adjourned to the 1st October, 2014.
