Waka-Fine Bus Case: Court Raises Questions Over Police Photo Evidence

In a case that has captured local attention, police officer Sahr Emmanuel Dambisa took the stand at Ross Road Court No.2 to testify in a high-profile dispute over a damaged government-owned bus.

The defendants, Abdul Turay and Foday Gbla, are accused of maliciously smashing the side mirror of a Waka-Fine bus valued at Le 3,700.

The incident reportedly occurred on June 30, 2026, prompting an immediate investigation by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). Officer Dambisa, assigned to the case, presented compelling evidence: photographs of the damaged bus taken with his mobile phone.

These images, he testified, were captured at the Wallace Johnson Street station and serve as crucial proof linking the defendants to the crime.

However, the courtroom drama intensified when defense counsel V. Amara Esq. challenged the admissibility of the photos. "This witness should have properly established where these photos came from," argued Amara, suggesting that the prosecution had failed to lay a proper foundation for the evidence.

Magistrate Idrissa A. Kamara, presiding over the case, initially appeared hesitant. Pointing out that photographs stored in a phone’s gallery are not automatically admissible, he demanded that the prosecution clarify the origin of the images.

Officer Dambisa quickly located the photos, and the court seemed to accept their authenticity—until the next hurdle arose.

When the prosecution finally produced the physical photographs, the defense lawyer objected again. This time, the issue was that the defense had not been shown the photos prior to the hearing, raising concerns about fair trial rights.

Magistrate Kamara upheld this objection, ordering the prosecution to share the evidence with the defense before the next court date.

As the legal battle continues, Magistrate Kamara refused bail for Abdul Turay, citing concerns over the seriousness of the offense, while bail for Foday Gbla was granted, pending further hearings.

The case is scheduled to resume on August 11, 2026, and all eyes are on the courtroom as both sides prepare for what promises to be a pivotal hearing.

With the fate of the accused hanging in the balance, this case underscores the importance of proper evidence handling and the pursuit of justice in a fair and transparent manner.