March 2, 2018 By Yusufu S. Bangura
Magistrate Abdul Sheriff presiding at the Siaka Steven Street Court No.7 in Freetown has committed one Fatamata Ketim Jacoh to the High Court for alleged child kidnapping.
The accused person was before the court on one count charge of child kidnapping contrary to Section 56 of the Offence Against the Person Act 1861.
According to police prosecutor, Inspector 8534 Gabriel Sesay, the accused person on Friday 22nd December, 2017 at No. 35 Sit-Up Street in Freetown, stole a six month- old child,Mariama Massaquoi , against the will of her parent.
Making his ruling, Magistrate Sheriff noted that: “I have been through the evidence and satisfied that the accused person does have questions to answer pursuant to the offence charged. I therefore commit the matter to High Court of Justice for further trail,” Magistrate Sheriff ordered.
Early in her testimony, Adama Sama (complainant) recalled on the date in question, while she was preparing food in the kitchen, the accused was sitting at the veranda with the victim and his brother, Mohamed Massaquoi, who is two years old.
“I went inside the living room and later returned to the kitchen, but I could not find the accused and the victim. The rapper that was at the veranda was also missing so I raised alarm and went in search of the accused and the victim,” she told the court.
She added that she later reported the matter at Eastern Police Station, and that during the search; they received information from unknown person that the accused and the victim were seen at Wilberforce Barracks.