December 16, 2021
By: Audrey John
Gibrilla Koroma, Foday Kanneh and eight others made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on six count charges to wit Conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to law, shop breaking and Larceny contrary to section 26 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916 and four Count ranging from Receiving stolen goods contrary to section 33 (i) of the Larceny Act 1916
According to the particulars of offence on Thursday 4th November 2021 at Wilkinson Road the western area in Freetown conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit shop breaking and Larceny and one count two the accused persons with intent to steal broke and entered into the shop of Khalil Ibrahim Shour and stole therein the sum of one hundred and thirty united State dollars (130,000) equivalent in Leones one billion five hundred and thirty four million Leones (1,534,000,000), one H.P Laptop computer valued sixteen million Leones, one Samsung galaxy tab valued five million five million five hundred thousand Leones(5,500,000) all to the total value of one billion five hundred and fifty five million seven hundred thousand Leones(1,555,700,000) Property of Khalil Ibrahim Shour and the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 10th accused persons was charged with receiving stolen goods
First Prosecution Witness (PW1), Detective Police Constable 15221 Alimamy Morlai Turay attached to the exhibit unit Congo Cross division said his duties are receive and register case files, and to tender all exhibits brought to the station that has been reported. He said he recalled on the 7th December 2021 whilst on duties in the presence of Local Unit Commander, Assistant Commissioner J.K Alpha and the complainant that identified himself as Kalie Shaw and the said complainant identified the exhibits that were in his custody. He added that Inspector KSL Dumbuya brought and handed over to him twenty four thousand eight hundred United States dollars which he registered them in the exhibit court register book against serial 303/2021 since then the said exhibit were in his custody, and they were produced and tendered in court as exhibit A1-244 and E1-6 for the fifty dollars.
The witness said he also did photo copies of the notes which he tendered as exhibit D1-3.
Cross examination by defense counsel putting his question to the witness he asked are these the exhibits that has been given to you; the witness said yes. He asked again is it the normal practice that exhibits are handed over to you at the same day the matter was charged to court; the witness said it depends and he knew that the day these exhibit that was handed over to him is the same day the matter was charged to court the witness said no.
Counsel representing the A.T Turay complainant R. Johnson applied that the said exhibit may be handed over to the complainant pursuant to section 59 sub section 1 of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Magistrate Kekura refused bail and adjourned the matter to the 20th December 2021.