By: Audrey John
Morlai Kargbo a Plumber, Musa Samba a Tailor and Mohamed Koroma a business man have all been sent to jail by Magistrate Peter Gogra of Pademba road court No.6 in Freetown.
All accused persons were charged on three count charges to wit Larceny contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916, Malicious damage contrary to section 51 of the malicious damage Act 1861 and Receiving stolen goods contrary to section 33 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence on Sunday 17th July 2022 at Guma Valley water company compound tower hill the western area in Freetown did steal one blue and white Colored Baylam water meter with serial number 01266539 valued two thousand six hundred and ten Leones(2,610) property of Guma Valley water company; on count two at the same place and date the first accused person Morlai Kargbo maliciously damage the said meter, whilst on count three at the same place and date the third accused person did receive the said meter property of Guma Valley water company.
The charges were read and explained to the accused persons and the first accused person pleaded guilty whilst the 2nd and 3rd accused persons pleaded not guilty.
Inspector Mabel M Tarawalie led the first prosecution witness (PW1) Gabriel Gerald Foday who said he worked at Guma Valley Company as an engineer. The witness said he didn’t recognize both accused persons but recalled on the 17th July 2022 when he made a report at the said office for a missing meter.
PW1 said he also made report at the central police station where statement was obtained from him and his witness. He said he bought the sand meter at nineteen thousand United States dollars and was installed at the back of his office. He said he later got an information from one Mamoud about the stolen meter and in his presence police arrested two people, but he didn’t recognized the first accused person.
PW1 said it was his first time he came across the accused persons and he didn’t see the stolen meter in possession of the accused persons, though the first accused person admitted in his presence that he stole the said meter.
The witness was cross examined by the accused persons.
Magistrate Gogra sentenced the first accused person who pleaded guilty to twelve months imprisonment, while the 2nd and 3rd accused persons were refused bail both and sent to the male correctional center in Freetown. Matter adjourned
