By: Alimatu Kargbo
Forty-six-year-old twin brothers, Alhassan Fofanah and Alusine Fofanah, have been remanded in custody after appearing before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 in Freetown over the alleged murder of Mumunie Bah. The brothers are facing five counts of conspiracy to murder, murder, wounding with intent, wounding, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at No. 69A, Back of PWD Quarters, Sumaila Town, Freetown.
The charge sheet alleges that the two accused conspired with other persons unknown and murdered Mumunie Bah.
They are also accused of wounding Alie Bangura with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm, as well as maliciously wounding and assaulting him, allegedly causing actual bodily harm.
The murder charge is brought under Section 1 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, as repealed and replaced by Section 1(a) of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act of 2021, Act No. 6 of 2022.
The remaining charges relate to wounding with intent under Section 18, wounding under Section 20, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm under Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken.
The prosecution’s first witness, Detective Police Constable Ibrahim Kamara, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at Central Police Station, then took the witness stand and walked the court through the police investigation.
DPC Kamara told the court that on July 4, while on duty at CID Central Police Station, Detective Sergeant Musa J. assigned him an enquiry file that had been transferred from New England Police Station for further investigation.
He said the complainant, Alie Bangura, had already been issued a police medical request form at New England Police Station.
Later that day, DPC Kamara said he visited the alleged crime scene at Sumaila Town with Detective Inspector Sheku Lukulay and Detective Sergeant Lapia J., where photographs were taken.
On July 5, Bangura reportedly went to CID Central Police Station, where police obtained statements from him and witnesses identified as Michael Milton John, Abu Turay and Muvlai Bangura. The statements were subsequently produced and tendered in court as exhibits.
As the investigation progressed, police received information that Mumunie Bah had died at the scene and that his body had been taken to the Connaught Hospital Mortuary.
The witness said police at New England Police Station later informed them that both accused had reported themselves at the station.
DPC Kamara further testified that Muvlai Bangura handed three knives to the police, which were later submitted to the appropriate exhibit officer.
The two brothers were subsequently taken from New England Police Station to CID Central Police Station for further investigation.
According to the investigator, voluntary caution statements were obtained from both accused separately. He said they were cautioned and questioned in Krio, while their responses were recorded in English. The statements were then read back and explained to them in Krio.
DPC Kamara told the court that both accused confirmed the statements were true and correct and affixed their right thumbprints in the presence of Detective Sergeant Musa J., while he signed as the recorder. The statements were later tendered as exhibits.
The investigation also included a medical examination of Bangura and a post-mortem examination of Bah.
On July 15, DPC Kamara said he, Detective Sergeant Lapia J., Chief Medical Examiner, Dr Owiss Simeon Koroma, and his team conducted a post-mortem examination on Bah’s body.
Photographs were taken during the examination, while the post-mortem report and cause-of-death certificate were subsequently issued to police and tendered before the court.
Police also requested a forensic examination of the three knives on July 28 and sought an extension of the accused persons’ detention.
The investigation file was later forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice, which was received on August 10.
Following the advice, DPC Kamara, together with Detective Sergeant Musa J. and DPC Mor AB, formally charged the two brothers on August 11 with the five offences.
During cross-examination, DPC Kamara admitted that one of the accused sustained an injury following the fight. He said photographs of the injury were taken, but maintained that he did not see a cutlass at the scene. The witness also denied suggestions that he had advised either accused to admit the allegations in order to prevent them from suffering.
He further said both men were informed about the post-mortem examination and denied that either of them had lodged a separate complaint with police against another person over the incident.
Following the proceedings, Magistrate John Manso Fornah ordered that the two brothers remain in custody. The matter has been adjourned to September 9, 2026, for continuation of the hearing, with prosecution witness Muvlai Bangura expected to be subpoenaed to appear before the court.
The allegations against the two men remain to be tested through the ongoing court proceedings.
