June 8, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura
Journalist, presenter and Station Manager at AYV radio, Mamaja Jalloh, popularly known as DJ Base, yesterday (Wednesday 7th June, 2017) testified before Magistrate Dr. Abou Bhakarr Binneh-Kamara in an ongoing preliminary investigation involving Mohamed Kanu, aka Master Bitutex, Laurence Peters, Alieu Vandy, Lamin Kanu, Mohamed Idressa Dumbuya, Suliaman Conteh, Aruna Momoh and Saidu Dumbuya.
The accused are before the court on two counts of conspiracy and office breaking contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The prosecution had alleged that all accused persons on 27th February, 2017, conspired with unknown persons to commit a crime to wit office breaking.
The prosecution also claimed that on the same date at AYV compound, broke into and entered the media house and stole properties belonging to the AYV Proprietor, Junior Navo.
The factual witness, DJ Base, said he has been working for AYV radio for the past five years as station manager and that workers report to him whenever they have guest or program in the studio.
According to him, a record of every aired program would be submitted to him for record purposes but on the night of the incident, he was not told of any guest or program at the radio studio.
He explained that on the day of the incident, he received a phone call from one of his colleagues, informing him about the alleged theft at the office.
He told the court that when he arrived at the scene, he observed that some media equipment were stolen, drawers ransacked, the doors to the stores were damaged, the bar to the window at the TV building was forcibly opened and also the CCTV camera that was turned to the gate was turned to the wall.
The witness said the first accused, Mohamed Kanu aka Master Bistutex, was assigned to work on Sundays and was on duty when the alleged theft took place.
Lawyer R. A. B Jones, who assisted the prosecution, applied for the restriction of the bail for first, seventh and eighth accused persons, noting that they were interfering with the prosecutions’ case.
However, defence Lawyer, C. Campbell, objected to the application, stating that the accused persons have put up the best behaviour since they were put on bail.
Magistrate Binneh-Kamara cautioned the accused persons to stay calm, while the matter was still in court.