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From Standard Times Press News Paper POLITICS 42- year- old Abdul Karim Kargbo a farmer and businessman of Rokel village in the TMS chiefdom Port Loko district, is currently languishing at the Makeni Prison as he was wrongfully accused of committing the offence of murder. Despite there are no substantial and circumstantial evidences to prove the guilt of Karim, he has spent over six months in detention without trial. The allegation levied against Abdul Karim Kargbo is that he murdered Edward Kargbo alias Edie-Boy and Alimamy Kargbo all of Konikay village in the same chiefdom sometime in December 2007. Police investigation has clearly exonerated Abdul Karim Kargbo, but those who hate his guts and want to see him perish are busy using their political connections and money to constantly keep him in detention at the Makeni Prison. His appearance at the Makeni Magistrate court recently presided over by Magistrate Emmanuella Harding is to present a fake picture to the public about the commencement of his trial. The matter is not only crawling like a chameleonic in a hot afternoon, but is sending the wrong signal to the public that justice for the poor and under privileged in Sierra Leone is far fetched.
It was a long standing dispute between two villages, according to investigation carried out by Standard Times investigator, Alhaji Saidu Kamara that the innocent farmer has been scapegotized. Two villages have been engaged in a land dispute at Rokelbunkeh between Alhaji Dauda Kargbo of Konikay and Karim of Rokel. Reports say sometime in December 2007, some inhabitants of Konikay attacked two individuals of the Rokel village. They are Gbessay Kargbo the elder brother of Karim and Alimamy Bangura, both of them sustained serious injuries as a result of the attack. After the attack, it was reported that Abdul Karim conveyed the victims to the Port Loko Police station, where statement was obtained from them and later referred to the Port Loko Government Hospital for medical treatment, while the LUC of the Port Loko Police Station, Supt. Tarawally alias Pastor ordered a team of armed OSD personnel led by OC Ibrahim to accompany Karim to the village for the sole purpose of inviting the attackers. On their arrival, police say at the Rokel village, it was alleged that some individuals of Konikay having the support of Dr. Sheku Sesay former Minister of Presidential Affairs Minister and Dr. Saidu Kamara of the Kingtom Police Hospital allegedly hired the services of thugs comprising ex- military and RUF fighters and deployed them in an unidentified locations within the Rokel village.
So when Karim and the SSD personnel about nine in number arrived in Rokel they were attacked and disarmed and their AK 47 rifles withdrawn from them. During the scuffle three of the police officers sustained wounds on their heads. The angry mob vow to kill Karim, but luck was on his side when he was rescued by a reinforcement team of police personnel who returned with him to the Port Loko Police Station. The LUC advised Karim to stay at the station for security reason, this reporter was told by police officers at the Port Loko Police Station’. While Karim was in police custody a private soldier whose name was giving as Mohamed Kamara arrived at the police station with two rifles, which he claimed were given to him by the Paramount Chief of TMS PC Bai Kama Ahtinkie 11.
LUC Tarawally later ordered one of his officers, by the name of Sanpha a native of Konikay village to collect the remaining three guns. On his arrival at the Rokel village, he discovered that the entire village has been burnt down, sparing the Mosque and a Primary School. About 34 houses were razed to the ground. “Most of the youth were armed with guns including Edie-Boy who later handed over the three guns belonging to the police” Sanpha explained to his boss on his return. (To be continued)
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