𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁, 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀.

The presiding magistrate, Santigie Bangura, issued this ruling at Magistrate Court number 2 Holden in Freetown in the ongoing lawsuit between the State and former Minister of Finance Patricia Laverley.

Patricia Laverley is charged with grievous bodily harm under section 2 of the Offenses Against Persons Act of 1861 and assault causing actual bodily harm against Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Nabeela Tunis.
According to the charges, on November 12 this year, the accused assaulted Nabeela Tunis, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, in State House with the purpose to cause her grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm.

During the court proceedings, the lead state defence counsel, L. Jenkins Johnson, apologised to the court for the accused’s absence, who was reportedly admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at the Choitrams Hospital for medical treatment and consequently unable to appear in court.

In his argument, the lead state council, Yousif Isaac Sesay, notes that he expected the accused to appear in court because she was absent at the previous sitting and had been directed to be present for this one. He furthered that this is delaying the trial and raise concerns about the prospect of one being in the intensive care unit from November 17 to now. He also advised that the accused must come in court to clear her name, accusing the defense counsel of being deceptive.

Magistrate Santigie Bangura directs the accused to appear in court to prove that she is indeed critically ill, and she will be granted reasonable medical leave if the court determines that the accused’s condition and requires intensive medical attention.

Furthermore, the lead defense counsel proposes that the state counsel attend the Choitrams hospital to confirm the accused’s condition.

Contrary to the aforesaid submission, the state counsel denies the request to visit the accused at the hospital, stating that the medical doctor in charge of the accused in the ICU should instead come to court to confirm the accused’s critical condition.

Magistrate Santigie concludes with an order that the sureties should bring the accused to court not later than Wednesday, December 4th, or else the sureties will be arrested.