Medico to testify in APC’s Zuliatu Cooper & others case

March 14, 2019

By Regina Pratt

One of the defense counsels in the matter involving the former Deputy Health Minister under the All Peoples Congress, Zuliatu Cooper and 13 others, J. S. Kanu, on Wednesday, March 13^th, 2019, applied to Magistrate Hannah Bonnie for him to summon the medical doctor, who prepared document for Cooper to travel abroad for medical attention.

On the last adjourned date, the defense counsel had told the court that the said document was prepared by a credible medical institution, and that they would try to get the medical practitioner to testify.

Lawyer Kanu informed Magistrate Bonnie that the said medical practitioner is the only Neurologist in the country.

On the other hand, State Prosecutor, Y. I Sesay, informed the Magistrate that they were also going to apply for a subpoena for their own medical practitioner to testify on the report.

Magistrate Bonnie ordered the defense counsel that all documents pertaining to the 1^st accused be made available to the prosecution.

Lawyer Sesay led in evidence the first prosecution witness, Inspector A.R. Jalloh, attached to the Major Incident Unit at the Criminal Investigations Department.

The witness said he was at the unit on December 31, 2018, when a team of officers headed by D. S. Senesie arrested the 1^st accused.

He said the matter was directed to him for investigations and that he obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused.

He said the accused was charged with the offence of conspiracy to commit a crime, riotous conduct and resisting police arrest.

Under cross-examination, the witness declined knowledge of Poultney Street being a congested area.

The fourteen accused persons were charge with various offences of conspiracy to commit riotous conduct, riotous manner, idle and disorderly behaviour, obstructing police in executing of duties, resisting police in executing their duties, prohibited procession without notification of the IG to process along Siaka Stevens street and throwing of missiles.

The matter was adjourned to Wednesday March 20, 2019.