By: Audrey Raymonda John
60yrs-old security guard Momodu Bah was arrested by Detective Police Constable 17845 Koroma M and appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No. 1 for allegedly breaking into Rahim Mohamed’s Foreign Exchange Bureau at Calaba Town Freetown, and stole one hundred thousand and fifty-two thousand hundred leones (NLe152, 400).
The accused person appeared before the court on a count charge of housebreaking and larceny contrary to law.
It was alleged that the accused, on Monday 29th May 2023 at K- Step Calaba Town in Freetown broke into the complainant’s Foreign Exchange Bearua at the aforesaid place and stole therein certain valuables worth thousands of leones.
Led in evidence by Police Constable 14032 Koroma E.F prosecution witness (PW)2, Mason Amara Musa residing at Orugu Allen Town in Freetown knew the complainant as his boss and recognized the accused as a security guard who was working for the complainant.
Musa said he could recall 29th May 2023.
On the said date in the morning, he went to his enquiry from his him if they are going to work on that particular day.
The witness said the complainant’s wife whose name was not mentioned, gave him information that theft had occurred at the said office.
Upon receipt of the information, he said he instantly left for the crime, upon his arrival, he saw the accused.
He said when he interrogated the accused in respect of the incident, responding, he the accused, told him that he went to bed by 3 am.
The witness added at the crime scene, he discovered that the door leading to the said office was damaged and the entire office was ransacked, adding that also observed that television and laptops have been carted away.
After a few seconds, he said the complaint arrived at the crime, noting that he and the complainant left for Calaba Town and reported the matter against the accused.
PW2 continued that he, the complainant and a team of police officers visited the crime scene and took photographs.
The accused was invited to the said station, disclosing that when the police interrogated him in his presence the accused led him, the complainant and police officers left for the accused’s alleged residence at K- Step axis.
The witness said when they arrived at the said residence an old woman gave them information that the accused had left the said place for the past two years.
He said the accused led them again to another residence in Yams Farm, but the accused’s wife whose name was not disclosed, told them since then she had transferred at the said residence, she had not set eyes on the accused for three months.
Musa rounded up his evidence that he made a statement to the police at the Calaba Town Station.
During cross-examination by defence counsel Solomon, Maada Gbongboto asked what the said office meant.
Responding, he said the office is meant for money transactions.
Lawyer Gbongboto renewed and adopted his previous application for bail on behalf of the accused, by relying on section 79 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965.
Responding, Magistrate Kekura said during the testimonies of PW 1 and 2, it seems that the accused had no fixed abode and was denied bail due to the seriousness of the allegations.
Magistrate Kekura vowed to consider bail upon hearing the prosecution witness on the next adjourned date.
The matter was adjourned to Thursday 19th July 2023 for further hearing.