Seven defendants committed to High Court for wounding, kidnapping

Seven defendants committed to High Court for wounding, kidnapping.

Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah of the Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown has committed seven defendants—Prince Oscar, Emeka Oguigbo, Ferdinand Zeaziri, Salifu Yemah Samura, Sahr Kamara, Saed Fuad Thoronka, and Mohamed Dauda Turay—to the High Court for trial.

The defendants face a six-count charge, including conspiracy, causing grievous bodily harm, larceny from a person, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The particulars of the offence allege that between December 11th and 16th, 2022, at #26 Small Doherty Street, Murray Town, Western Area, Freetown, the accused conspired with Ferdinand Onyeoziri, Salifu Yemah Samura, Sahr Thoronka, and Mohamed Dauda Turay to kidnap an individual identified as Nwuso.

The first and second accused are charged with causing grievous bodily harm, contrary to Section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. The third and fourth accused face charges of larceny from a person (contrary to Section 14 of the Larceny Act 1916) and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861). The second accused is also charged with kidnapping. The fifth, sixth, and seventh accused were charged as accessories after the fact, specifically for aiding and abetting the kidnapping.

During the preliminary investigation, Magistrate Jah ensured the charges were read and explained to all accused persons, noting that no pleas were entered. He then summarized the brief facts of the case.

Based on the evidence presented, Magistrate Jah concluded that sufficient evidence existed to warrant the committal of the first four accused—Prince Oscar, Emeka Oguigbo, Ferdinand Zeaziri, and Salifu Yemah Samura—to the High Court for trial. However, the court discharged the fifth, sixth, and seventh accused—Sahr Kamara, Saed Fuad Thoronka, and Mohamed Dauda Turay—as they were reported to have departed the scene before the kidnapping took place.