en en en en en en en en en en es en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en es es en en en en en en en en en es en en en en en en en az en en en it en en en es es es en en en en en en en en en en en en es es es en en en en ru en es es en en en en
Ten private bodyguards of Dr. Kandeh Kolleh Yumkella were yesterday granted Le10 million bail each by Magistrate Komba Kamanda, presiding at the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1.
The men were arrested a fortnight ago and arraigned on a couple of offences, including impersonation, after prosecutors alleged they were dressed in police and military uniforms at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi, where they had gone to receive the arriving former United Nations top diplomat and standard-bearer aspirant for the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP).
The accused persons include younger sibling of Dr. Yumkella, Foday Ahmed Yumkella, and Briton Paul James Shepherd. The others are Reuben Tekuyama, Paul Sandy, George Pratt, Mohamed Kargbo, Ahaji Koroma, Alusine Sesay, David Sattia, and Salifu Samura.
Police had filed six counts against the men, including conspiracy to commit a felony, to wit impersonation, conspiracy to defraud, use of unauthorised public telecommunication, and unlawful possession of cannabis sativa, contrary to law.
After their arrest and detention on 22 August, the men were brought to court but were denied bail and remanded when state prosecutors vehemently objected to an application for bail by defence counsels.
However, acting Director of Public Prosecutor, Suliaman A. Bah Esq., did not object to bail yesterday after he told the court his witnesses were unavailable.
Magistrate Kamanda thus granted the accused persons bail in the sum of Le10m and a surety each, in like sum, adding that the Deputy Master and Registrar should ascertain and approve that the accused have fulfilled the bail conditions.
The hearing was adjourned to 5 October when the prosecution is expecting to open their case.
Previous articleAirtel to sponsor 50 women entrepreneurs
The Concord Times newspaper was founded in 1992. It is Sierra Leone’s leading publication. The newspaper has a reputation for top quality, fair and unbiased stories and features. Daily publications cover areas such as sports, politics, business, economy, entertainment, technology, etc.