By Fatima Kpaka
Detective Police Constable 17861 Issa Kargbo testified on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in the ongoing trial of businessman Adekalie Conteh, accused of murdering Andrew Mansaray. The case was presented before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No.2.
Conteh faces three charges: Conspiracy to Murder under Section 4 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, Murder under Section 1 of the same act (revised by Section 1(a) of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021), and Malicious Damage under Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861.
According to police reports, on February 16, 2025, at Tokeh Grassfield on Peninsular Road in Freetown, Conteh, along with others yet unidentified, allegedly conspired to murder Andrew Mansaray. The accused is also alleged to have maliciously destroyed a Bluetooth musical set valued at three thousand Leones, belonging to Francis Lebbie.
Detective Police Constable Kargbo testified that he was assigned the case on February 19, 2025, at the Lumley Police Station. Investigations included obtaining statements from witnesses, visiting the crime scene, and discovering bloodstains, which were documented with photographs. A voluntary caution statement was taken from Conteh in Krio and translated into English, which he confirmed as accurate with his thumbprint.
On February 24, 2025, a postmortem examination was requested, and two days later, the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death, with results tendered in court. Subsequently, on February 27, 2025, Conteh was formally charged based on advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.
During the court session, the prosecution presented evidence, including crime scene photographs, the accused’s caution statement, and the postmortem report. Magistrate Bangura denied bail and remanded the accused to the male correctional facility in Freetown. The case was adjourned to April 24, 2025, for further hearing.