Amidu Sesay, a musician, and Mohamed H. Kargbo, also known as Med Denero, appeared before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 in Freetown.
The two accused faced a seven-count charge, ranging from conspiracy to commit a crime to intimidation, contrary to the law.
Counts one and two allege conspiracy to commit a crime, while counts three and four relate to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, contrary to Section 47 of the Offenses Against the Person Act of 1861.
Count five charges both men with disorderly behavior, contrary to Section 12 of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965, as amended by Section 15 of Act No. 2 of 1973.
Counts six and seven accuse the defendants of intimidation, contrary to law.
According to the particulars of the offence, on February 22, 2025, at Radisson Blu Hotel in Aberdeen, Freetown, both accused conspired to commit crimes against fellow musicians Fredrik Dapay Peters, alias Famous, and Ibrahim Fofanah.
Both accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read and explained in court.
The prosecution team included Assistant Commissioner of Police Joan Bull, ASP Mansaray, M. Sesay Esq., and C. Kamara Esq. ACP Joan Bull led the testimony of the first prosecution witness, Fredrik Dapay Peters.
Peters told the court that; he recognized both accused, describing them as close associates (“borbor”) of Kao Denero, Sierra Leone’s Entertainment Ambassador. He recalled attending a “Ladies First” program organized by fellow artist Star Zee at the Radisson Blu Hotel.
According to Peters, while standing outside the venue, the accused deliberately bumped into him. Although his friends wanted to retaliate, he told them not to.
He later went to the pool area to relax when Kao Denero confronted him, accusing him of harboring envy and resentment over his ambassadorial appointment. Peters testified that Kao used abusive language and ordered the second accused to spray him with pepper spray.
Peters described feeling paralyzed, confused, and abused during the incident. At that point, ACP Joan Bull requested an adjournment to present another witness.
Defense counsel Z. Kanu applied for bail on behalf of the accused, stating they are respectable Sierra Leonean musicians with reliable sureties. He argued that the offenses, though serious, are bailable, and cited Section 23 of the 1991 Constitution, which upholds the presumption of innocence. He also referenced Sections 79(2 & 3) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965 in support of bail.
However, Magistrate Jah denied the bail application and ordered the accused to be remanded at the male correctional facility. The case was adjourned to June 11, 2025.
