By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-Seven years old Prince Kamara a Fitter made his first appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on one count charge to wit Receiving stolen goods contrary to section 33 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence on Monday 26th September 2022 at Waterloo the western area in Freetown did receive a Military Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance with registration number 70SL79 valued three million three hundred thousand Leones (3,300,000.00) from Josy Koroma knowing same to have been stolen property of the Sierra Leone Armed forces.
The charges were read and explained to the accused person and he pleaded not guilty.
Assistant Superintendent of police Ibrahim S Mansaray lead Prosecution witness number one Umaru Kekura Turay a Military Personnel Sergeant Major working at 34 hospital as transport officer ahead of all ambulance at the said hospital he recognized the accused person on this matter.
He recalled on the 26th September 2022 on the said date he was at the said hospital when he received a call from his boss at EMB Connel Sylvanus Bundu who told him that one minister called him the name of the purported minister was not mentioned in court that he needed his help for ambulance.
The witness said he handed over the ambulance one of the military driver Koroma S.I the driver and the minister went to Waterloo.
Upon that he received information from the driver that the vehicle has been hijacked upon that he called the purported minister on his number 073076487 he couldn’t reach him upon the information he went to the Criminal Investigation Department.
He made report and he was sent to the cyber security office to trace the purported minister`s contact he later made statement at the Criminal Investigation Department.
The accused person was unrepresented by a legal representative and he Cross examined the witness.
Meanwhile Magistrate Ngegba refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional center in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to the 3rd April 2023 for further hearing.