By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-two-year-old Joseph Turay, an unemployed resident of Freetown, made another appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of the Pademba Road Court No. 2 on a single count of larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Monday 27th October 2025, at No. 28 Lucost Street, Kossor Town, Western Area, Freetown, the accused stole one iPhone 11 Pro Max valued at NLe 9,000; one Infinix Android mobile phone; and physical cash amounting to NLe 850. The total value of the stolen property is estimated at NLe 12,350, all belonging to Ibrahim Conteh.
When the charge was read and explained to him, the defendant pleaded guilty.
Prosecutor Sergeant 3379 Ballay T informed the court that the facts as charged were true and that the accused had no previous criminal record, making him a first-time offender. She produced and tendered both the caution statement and the charge statement of the defendant, which were admitted into evidence as part of the court record.
The defendant, who was not legally represented, pleaded with the Magistrate to temper justice with mercy.
In delivering his judgment, Magistrate Fornah stated that although the accused was a first-time offender and did not waste the court’s time, the court also considered the fact that the complainant had been permanently deprived of his property. The Magistrate therefore sentenced Joseph Turay to eighteen months imprisonment at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The sentence is to be served in full unless the stolen items are restored to the complainant.