It can be recalled that the accused person appeared before the magistrate on two separate charges of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm and Threatening Language on the first charge sheet reported against him by an individual named Franklyn Rogers and was granted bail to the above mentioned amount and on the second charge sheet which ranged from Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, Threatening Language to Trespass, reported against him by the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) for which he was denied bail and remanded at the Maximum Correctional Centre on Pademba road until Friday 17th November 2017 when both matters are slated to come up again.

The first charge for which he was granted bail has its particulars of the offence indicating that the accused threatened and assaulted one Franklyn Rogers at the SLBC’s studio on Jomo Kenyatta Road in Freetown on Monday 6th November 2017.

Since the prosecution could not produce the factual witnesses or call its complainants to testify, Lead Counsel for the accused person, Lawyer H.M. Gavao applied for bail on behalf of his Client. He stated that the accused person is a respecter of the court and that his charged was a bailable offence.

The lawyer further submitted that the accused is a national officer of the SLPP and further pleaded with the Bench to consider the fact that the accused is innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.

He concluded assuring the court that if the accused person is granted bail on this charge, he will not jump bail and will also ensure to be present in court on every adjourned date. He reminded the court further that bail is to ensure continuous appearance of the accused person until the matter is determined and disposed.

On his part, Lead Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samuel Kamara vehemently objected to the application for bail on the grounds that the rule of law must prevail and citizens should learn to respect the laws of the land.

He revealed that the Sierra Leone Police sent several invitations and made extensive efforts to have the accused availed himself for statement at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) but that all efforts by the police proved futile.

He went on that notices were also sent to a number of state institutions informing them about the deliberate refusal of the accused to avail himself but that nothing came out of it.

The prosecutor proceeded that the accused person is not a respecter of the law and that if granted bail there is all likelihood that he might jump bail or interfere with the prosecution and invade justice.

At this juncture, Magistrate Moody told the court that he will reserve ruling on both arguments until the second case file of the accused person is mentioned.

The second case file has its Particulars of Offence stating that the accused assaulted Joseph Kowa, Gerald Sesay and other staff of the SLBC on Jomo Kenyatta road on Monday 6th November 2017 and at the same time forcefully entered the SLBC’s studio and behaved in a disorderly manner thereby transgressing its peace.

Detective Police Constable Brima Koroma, prosecuting the second matter was led in evidence by Prosecutor Kamara.

At the conclusion of his testimony, another Counsel representing the accused person, A.Y. Brewah applied for bail on behalf of his Client by submitting similar applications earlier made by Lawyer H.M. Gavao in the first matter but ASP Samuel Kamara again objected to bail.

After listening to the submissions of both the prosecution and the defense on the second matter, Magistrate Moody refused to grant bail to the accused and remanded the matter.

In similar development, whiles Lahai Lawrence Leema together with other prisoners were being whisked to the Pademba Road Male Correction Centre onboard a correctional service vehicle, supporters of the SLPP Sierra Leone People’s Party converged at the court entrance pelted stones.

In the process, chaos erupted and one correctional officer was allegedly wounded on his head. This led to the arrest of one person who is now helping police with investigations.