By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone — On Thursday, August 22, 2024, Ali Jaffal, Abdul Jaffal, Abdallah Jaffal, Mohamed Jaffal, Abass Antar, Naif Antar, and Hassan Jaffal made their eighth appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at the Pademba Road Court No. 2. The group faces multiple charges, including wounding, assault, affray, throwing missiles, and disorderly behavior, related to an alleged attack on Adam Hamdan.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at the Young Sports Club (YSC) facility on Wilkinson Road in Freetown. According to the indictment, the accused maliciously wounded Adam Hamdan and Mohamed Aroune, assaulted them, and engaged in a public fight that was intended to incite fear. The accused are also charged with throwing stones and sticks during the altercation and behaving in a disorderly manner.
Testifying for the prosecution, Sergeant 7907 Mohamed Kamara from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Lumley Police Station identified the first and second accused, Ali Jaffal and Abdul Jaffal. Kamara recounted that on April 5, 2024, at around 11:00 p.m., the station received a report of a disturbance at the YSC facility. Chief Superintendent of Police Mohamed Turay, along with other officers, responded to the scene and later brought the accused to the station.
Kamara testified that he and DPC 17708 Mabinty Kamara conducted interviews with Ali and Abdul Jaffal, observing the judges’ rules during the process. The caution statements obtained from both accused were tendered in court as exhibits.
During cross-examination, defense counsel Jeremiah James Vandy, representing Ali Jaffal, questioned Sergeant Kamara. Kamara confirmed that Ali Jaffal claimed to have no knowledge of the fight at YSC. Defense counsel Joseph Amara, representing Abdul Jaffal, also questioned the witness, who confirmed that Abdul Jaffal was not present at the scene during the incident and denied the allegations against him.
Another witness, Detective Police Constable 15157 John Mohamed Turay, also attached to the Lumley CID, testified that he recognized the fifth and sixth accused, Abass Antar and Naif Antar. Turay recounted that on April 6, 2024, Chief Superintendent Mohamed Turay brought the accused to the station, and he was assigned to obtain their statements, which were also tendered as evidence.
Defense counsel Joseph Amara indicated that he was standing in for a colleague and therefore could not cross-examine the witness at this time. State counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay pointed out that despite the defense’s previous request for a speedy trial, they were now seeking an adjournment.
The case was adjourned to August 28, 2024.
