The accused appeared before Magistrate Darboe-Jaguraga on Wednesday, 21st August 2024. The prosecution was represented by Deputy Superintendent Buteh Sawaneh, while the accused was not represented during the court’s proceeding.
The indictment before the court alleged that Abdoulie Sowe had committed an offence to wit - with malice aforethought caused the death of one Alasana Baldeh, by chopping him with cutlass all over his body.
The incident occurred on the 13th of August 2024 at Omorto village in the West Coast Region.
However, the accused denied the charge levelled against him.
At that juncture, DPS Buteh Sawaneh applied to the Court pursuant to the provision of Section 5(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which gives power to the court to preside over all matters except treason.
He further based his application on legal notice no. 3 of 2009 that has established Special Criminal Division at the High Court to exclusively deal with capital offences made under section 143 (1) of the 1997 constitution.
"Accordingly, since the offence is murder and equally not bailable pursuant to Section 99 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code, I am applying that the case be transferred to the Special Criminal Division of the High Court pursuant to section 62 of the CPC, and the accused be remanded under Section 208 of the CPC pending arrangement before the High Court." DPS stated.
The application was then granted by the court, and the accused person was remanded at the State Central Prison, Mile II, awaiting his High Court arraignment.
