By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
High Court judge of Sierra Leone Hon. Justice Monfred Sesay at high court No.1 in Freetown on Wednesday 1st February 2023 sentence 20 years old Ebu Sawaneh an electrician to six years imprisonment at the Pademba road prison.
The convict, Ebu Sawaneh made an appearance before the court on a one count charge of Larceny in a Dwelling House Contrary to section 13(a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence the convict Ebu Sawaneh on 21st March 2022 at Freetown in the Western Area of Sierra Leone entered into the dwelling house of Michael Avante and stole one safe containing the sum of Twenty one thousand united dollar ($21,000) equivalent to the sum of Two Hundred and Ninety Four Thousand New Leone (Le 294,000), property of the Michael Avante.
“The convict pleaded guilty to the charge when it was read and explained to him by the court registrar.
State Prosecutor D. Sawyer in her submission told the court that the convict escaped to Conakry and later came back to the house of the complainant to apologize to him that he stole the money and was having sleepless night over it.
The Prosecutor furthered that in that time of his apology the complainant called the police and he was arrested, adding that the convict did stole the money and pleaded guilty to the offense.
The convict was represented by lawyers from the Legal Aid board including C. Tucker, I. Bangura and others, ‘C. Tucker pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy because he’s a first time offender’.
Convict, Ebu Sawaneh pleaded with judge, saying he is a young and promising man, and promised never to commit such act again.
Justice Monfred Sesay said that due to the plea mitigation by the Lawyer of the convict person and taken into consideration that he is a first time offender he therefore sentenced the convict person Ebu Sawaneh to six years imprisonment.