By Elizabeth Kamara
Thirty-three-years old Humunatu Agnes Gbla a business woman has made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No.1 on three count charges to wit causing grievous bodily harm with intent, wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
According to the particulars of offence, on Wednesday 7th August 2024 at parsonage Street in Freetown, Agnes Gbla caused grievous bodily harm to Ibrahim Habib Tarawalie with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.
Count two of the offence further stated that on the same date and place the accused person maliciously wounded Ibrahim Tarawallie while count three alleged that on the same date and place the accused person assaulted the said complainant in a manner thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm contrary.
Defense counsel E.A Coker led in Agnes Gbla who testified knowing the complainant in this matter as her business partner. She revealed her encounters with the complainant on the 7th August, 2024.
She testified that on that day Tarawallie who happens to be her business partner called her for them to meet at her shop, upon arriving at the shop herself together with Tarawallie, shestarted to check the goods that was given to her by him.
She also explained that Tarawallie complain about the oil not selling so she told him that it was because the price of the oil is different from the market price.
She said as they continue checking, she give him three thousand five hundred Leones for ten cartoon dippers, after the counting was done she told Tarawallie that she is going to one of her customer name Koni to collect money from her, as she was about leaving Tarawallie said he is coming with her to the said customer which she refused but Tarawallie insisted on going with her.
Upon arrival at the house of Koni she offered them seat in her living room and went inside to bring out the money they went for, when Koni brought she left them inside, as they were parking the said money he received a call, immediately after that call he told her that the dippers was to be sold seven hundred Leones for bundle and she replied no it should be three hundred and fifty Leone.
Gbla said they started an argument that led Tarawallie to pushed her and fell down, when she stands up she tried calming down Tarawallie that they were in someone else’s house that they should not fight over that because the dippers has already been disturbted and they should only find ways to solved it instead of fighting.
Gbla said she then grab her little bag as she was about to leave Tarawallie close the door and grabbed her hand not to go out, as she was struggling to remove her hand Tarawallie pushed her and throw knife at her but she was lucky to protect herself and shout for help she said Tarawallie tried to grab the knife and but this time she eventually took the knife and wanted to hit Tarawallie but he blocked the said knife with his elbow and got hurt.
Gbla said two people came in and took them to the chief of the said place who ordered Tarawallie to be taken care of at the hospital while Gbla should be sent to the police station. Gbla said she insisted on going by herself, she said upon arriving at the station the police officers issued medical report to Tarawallie and she too request for medical report but wasn’t giving to her.
Gbla said when she was at the station the family of Tarawallie came to the station in huge number shouting that they will damage her, so she was put in a room for hiding by the officer and she was later transferred to the shell old road police barracks where statement was obtained from her. Gbla in an open court said since then she has not seen her monthly flows.
Inspector 9939 Lahai M sought for a short adjournment for prosecution to Cross examined the witness. Magistrate Kekura adjourned the matter to the 21st January, 2025 while bail continues for Gbla.
