Brigadier General & Malador Make Counterclaims In Court

By  Fatima Sesay

 

Brigadier General Albert Sylvester Bockarie, on Wednesday 27th August 2025, dragged to court Marwan Malador  on an allegation of Cyber Bulling.

 

During proceedings, when the  Clerk was about reading the charge levied against Marwan Malador,  lead Defense Counsel, Charles Isreal Williams, objected that he wants to make submission before the charge is read to his client.

This application was accepted by the principal Magistrate.

Defense Counsel Charles Isreal Williams in his submission made a preliminary objection, stating that the matter should not proceed because there is a complaint made by his client to the police against the complainant, and that he had refused to attend to the invitation sent to him by the police.

He made his submission pursuant to section 44 (3)(a)(c) of the Cyber Crime Act of 2021.

Lawyer Williams further submitted that allowing the matter to proceed will lead to injustice, in that there has been a prior complaint to the police regarding the same matter.

Lawyer Williams furthered that the failure of the complainant to appear before the police for investigation is what has led to this current action in which they are in court.

Lawyer Williams in his submission also relied on the Supreme Court Case of the state versus Abraham Lavaly and nine others, adding that in this case the Supreme Court took cognizance of what he called “public Interest”.

He further submitted that it would be against the interest of the public to proceed with Brigadier General Albert Sylvester Bockarie’s case while the case which his client, Marwan Malador,  reported at the police since last year and is still within the domain of the police, adding that Brigidiar General Albert Sylvester Bockarie is still avoiding to appear before the police.

Lawyer Williams added that such an action offends the conscience of justice. He further submitted that because of such behavior, the case which is presently before the court should be stayed until justice is served, adding that the court cannot tolerate such action, as it will taint the course of justice.

Lawyer Williams further submitted that the complainant, Brigadier General Albert Sylvester Bockarie should be ordered by the Court to attend to the police because several calls have been made, but he had refused to honor the invitation because he is a member of the RSLAF.

 

Lawyer Daniel koroma in responding to the submission made by Defense Counsel Charles Isreal Williams, opposed the application, maintaining that the authority cited by Defense Counsel Williams about the Supreme Court Case indicated an application for a release, adding that the current case before the court has not started.

Lawyer Daniel koroma furthered that Defense Counsel Williams has also failed to prove his claim of a matter at the police station against his client, adding that he is misleading the court.

He said Brigadier General Albert Sylvester Bockarie is a senior statesman, who is always in his office, and if he had refused to honor an invitation sent by the police, a warrant of arrest should have been sent to arrest him.

He said that there is nothing before the Court showing that his client, Brigadier General Albert Sylvester Bockarie, was invited by the police, furthering that nothing stops the police from charging a matter to Court, as we are all guided by law.

He maintained that after the matter was investigated, it was requested by the Director of Public Prosecution to charge the matter to court, which is the procedure.

He continued that Defense Counsel Williams has failed to present frank discussion as to why they are in court.

He prayed that the judge discountenance the application made by Defense Counsel Williams.

After both submissions, Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah over-ruled the submission made by Defense Counsel Williams and asked that the charge be read to Marwan Malador.

At this juncture the prosecution sought an amendment of the charge.

Magistrate Jah said they should have prepared their file properly before charging the matter to court, adding that the file was brought before the court a day before the matter was mentioned for hearing.

Magistrate Jah said he wants his conscience to be clear while executing his duty, adding that he does not want to waste time with matters.

He therefore adjourned the matter to 1 September 2025 for the prosecution to amend their file.

Marwan Malador was granted  self bail.