By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 has remanded Foday Amara and Lamin Mayiteh Kargbo at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown for allegedly conspiring with unknown persons and break into Mohamed James Foday’s store and stole there six (6) tons of iron rod and other valuables worth eighty-nine thousand, six hundred Leones ((NLe89,600).
The accused who were arrested on 13 June 2023 by Detective Police Constable (DPC) 18009 Saidu L arraigned before the court on two counts charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and larceny contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The police said the accused, on Monday 13 June 2023 at Paopa Town Gratfon on the outskirts of Freetown, conspired with unknown persons to commit a crime, to wit, larceny.
The charge furthered that the accused, on the same date and place in Grafton, on the outskirts of Freetown, conspired with unknown persons and stole six tons of iron rod and other valuables worth NLe89, 600 belonging to the complainant.
Led in evidence by Sergeant 9874 Turay M.M prosecution witness (PW1), Ibrahim Sheriff who resides at C.RS Grafton in his testimony told the bench that he recognized the accused as his neighbors and could recall on the day in question.
PW1 continued that on said date, he was on his night patrol at the Malador Filling Station, when he heard a strange sound in the complainant’s compound.
The witness said that prompted him to go to the scene, adding that upon his arrival at the said crime scene, he saw the accused including the caretaker, Mohamed.
He said when he interrogated the caretaker, Mohamed about the incident, responding, he said Mohamed told him that they transferred the items to another site and assured him that the complainant knew about the said transfer.
On the following morning, he said when the complainant came at the site; he asked him if he was aware of the transferred that occurred at around 2am.
He said the complainant then reported the matter to the Grafton Police Station and subsequently the accused were arrested and convened to the said statement, where he made a statement.
During cross examination by defense counsel H. Kamara asked the witness if he was a security guard responsible to man the complainant’s compound.
In response he answered in the affirmative.
The lawyer asked the witness if he could tell the colors of clothes the accused were wearing.
In response, Mr Sheriff said he couldn’t, but he can recognize them by their faces.
Lawyer Kamara suggested to the witness that in the day of the alleged incident, he only saw the caretaker, Mohamed at the site.
The witness said he saw the accused including Mohamed who happens to be the caretaker.
Lawyer Kamara applied for bail on behalf of his client citing section 79 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965. He assured the bench that his clients have reliable sureties willing and ready to enter into cognizance if bail was granted.
He said they will not interfere with the prosecution witnesses and that the accused persons would always avail themselves in court as and when needed.
Responding, Magistrate Kekura denied the accused persons bail due to the seriousness of the offences and remanded them at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.
Meanwhile, the matter 31st July 2023 for further hearing.