By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
Desmond Kamara, Eric Tengbeh and Mohamed Issa Koroma appeared before Justice Adrian Fisher of the High Court no.1 in Freetown on two counts charges.
According to the indictment the accused persons are charged of Conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery contrary to section 23 (2) of the Larceny Act.
The particulars of offence on count 1 states that the accused persons on the 15th April 2020 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone conspired together and with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit robbery.
On count 2 its particulars states that the accused persons on the 15th April 2020 at Freetown in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone conspired together with other persons unknown robbed Mr Lansana Jabbie.
The 2nd accused person Eric Tengbeh testified in court on oath.
He said during the early hours of April 2022, he saw people gathered outisde the house of Mr Lansana Jabbie and pointing to him that he is a thief.
He went on that he met his parents and told them of the situation and that his parents told him that Mr Lansana Jabbie said thieves broke into his house the previous night and attacked him and stole his properties.
Immediately he said he went to the house of Mr Jabbie to know exactly what happened, Eric Tengbeh said Mr Jabbie insinuated that the accused was provocative towards his situation.
He went on that his purpose of his visit was not on a provocative note but that his name was mentioned in the matter and called a thief as such he said he wanted to clear his name and that he could never do such a thing to him being his neighbor.
The accused said Mr Jabbie then took away his hand towels from him and said that he was going to make a case against him and called out youths.
He went on to say that a certain youth named William rushed at him and punched him in the face and took away his phone and a cash sum of 150,00le beating him up and handing him over at the Rokel Police Station where he said he was in custody for four day before transferred to the Ross Road division and spent days there before the matter was charged to court.
Cross examination by State Counsel M Kekura Esq inquired of his relationship with the complainant which the accused responded to a neighbour and further challenged the accused that he was not honest with his testimony and that the accused was arrested by police officers.
The accused replied him that he was beaten up by youths and was handed over at the Rokel Z police Station and that he was unaware of any incident that happened with the accused and that the yellow hand towel he had, the complainant who is his neighbour identified it when he saw him holding it when he was at his house.
1st accused person presented witnesses to testified on his behalf.
First Defense witness Mamusu Kamara wife of the 1st accused and a trader recognised the accused person and the relationship between them.
She said they were at home at 6: am when she heard a loud noise outside and rushed out with her sister in law to know the cause of the commotion, she said a certain man named Mr Prince commonly called Mr P held a machete in his hand and told the accused person and his wife that he was searching for stolen items.
The witness said this infuriated her husband (accused) and had an altercation with Mr P as she said her husband expressed disappointment at Mr P for doing such at his premises.
She concluded her testimony that Mr P replied that the search was conducted along with other houses and not only his.
He said this altercation drew the attention of youths and that Mr Jabbie pointed at the Husband that he is a thief.
