Pademba Road Court Building
By Emma Black
In Freetown, journalist Joseph Mendel Lamin, popularly known as Manager Dust, appeared in court alongside motorbike rider Morlia Kamara and driver Umaru Timbo for their fourth court appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1.
The three accused are facing two counts: conspiracy to commit murder and murder, in violation of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, as amended by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act, 2021, according to the prosecution, on January 15, 2025, the accused, together with other unknown persons, allegedly conspired to murder journalist Samuel Brima Mattia at the Voice of Peace and Development (VOPAD) Radio Station located in Kissi Town, Waterloo.
During the hearing on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Inspector Abubakarr Kargbo took the witness stand before Magistrate Patrick Fofanah at the same court. He presented documentary evidence labeled Exhibits D1 to D17, which included digital conversations between the second accused and other individuals making reference to the first accused. He stated that these materials were submitted to both the Cyber Unit and the Law Officers’ Department for further examination.
Inspector Kargbo further testified that on February 7, 2025, he conducted an interview with the first accused in Krio, and the responses were transcribed into English. The accused later confirmed the contents to be accurate and endorsed the statement with his right thumbprint. Inspector Kargbo signed the document as the interviewing officer, and a colleague officer signed as a witness.
Additionally, Kargbo explained that he and Inspector K. Matthew jointly interviewed the second accused during the same month. The second accused was formally charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Like the first interview, this session was conducted in Krio, with responses translated into English, confirmed by the accused, and signed using their thumbprints, The case has been adjourned to Tuesday, May 20, 2025, for further proceedings.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 19th, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
