Kekeh Rider Committed to High Court on Multiple Wounding Charges

Kekeh Rider Committed to High Court on Multiple Wounding Charges

The matter of twenty-nine-year-old Musa Dumbuya, a commercial tricycle (Kekeh) rider, has been committed to the High Court by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown. Mr. Dumbuya faces serious indictable charges, specifically: wounding with intent (contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861), wounding (contrary to Section 20 of the same Act), and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (under Section 47 of the Act).

The particulars of the offence state that on Thursday, 15th January 2026, at Genet Lane, Kingtom Bomeh in the Western Area of Freetown, the defendant allegedly wounded the complainant, Ibrahim David Kamara, also known as "Birthday Boy." The prosecution asserts that Mr. Dumbuya maliciously inflicted injuries that caused the complainant actual bodily harm.

The committal proceedings included testimony from Detective Police Constable 18235 Kabie K. Thoronka, the second prosecution witness. DPC Thoronka identified both the defendant and the complainant in court and testified that on the day of the incident, they were brought to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters. The complainant was observed to be bleeding from his back and hand.

A police medical request form was issued for Mr. Kamara's treatment at Connaught Hospital, and the resulting medical report, along with photographic evidence of the injuries, was tendered in court.

On the same day, DPC Thoronka, along with Detective Police Constable 22257 Sannoh A.J., obtained a caution statement from the defendant, which was transcribed from Krio into English. The defendant confirmed the statement's truth by affixing his right thumbprint. A further charge and caution statement was obtained by the same officers on 24th January 2026 and was also tendered as part of the court records.

Following the closure of the prosecution's case, Magistrate Fornah reviewed all presented evidence, including witness testimonies, exhibits, and the defendant’s voluntary caution statements. The Magistrate concluded that there was sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case connecting the defendant to the charges.

Consequently, the case was committed to the High Court for trial pursuant to Section 116(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2024.

The Magistrate granted the defendant bail in the sum of three hundred thousand Leones, requiring one surety of a similar amount. The surety is mandated to be a responsible, senior citizen residing and gainfully employed in Freetown, and must provide valid proof of identity and residence. The Deputy Assistant Registrar formally approved the bail terms.