By: Audrey Raymonda John
A litigant has paid the fine of five hundred thousand Leones for one Osman Turay (accused person) who was found guilty for larceny.
Turay was arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 for conspiracy to commit felony and larceny contrary to section 2 of the larceny Act of 1916.
It was alleged by the police that on Friday 16th of June 2023 at No. 5 Samuel Drive Hastings conspired together with other persons unknown to commit the crime.
On count two, the police also alleged that the accused steal one Tecno Spark three mobile phone valued two thousand Leones belonging to Abioseh William.
Delivering his judgment after the prosecution close its case, magistrate Sahr Kekura said the accused was charged with conspiracy to commit felony and larceny.
Building their case, magistrate Sahr Kekura said the police offered no evidence on count one which is conspiracy and continue with count two, larceny.
The charge was read and explained to him and pleaded not guilty.
It was alleged that the accused stole one mobile phone valued two thousand Leones belonging to Abioseh William.
During preliminaries, Magistrate Sahr Kekura said the accused had no legal representation. The Magistrate said it was established in the case of Wilmington that the burden of proof lies on the head of the prosecution.
He said the standard of proof should be beyond reasonable double.
He said that in their evidence of PW1 and 2 stated that the accused and his co-workers were at the resident of the complainant on the day of the incident.
He said complainant explained that on that day he had a phone call, after responding to the call he left the phone outside and when he return the phone got missing.
Magistrate Kekura said complainant testified that the accused when questioned denied seeing the phone.
Perusing the police file, he said during investigation, the accused made a denial statement but in page eight of that same statement he told the police that they should hold him responsible for the phone.
Based on circumstantial evidence from the prosecution, Magistrate Kekura said it has proved its case beyond all reasonable doubt. He therefore fined the accused person guilty of the offence charge.
The convict later pleaded with the bench to tamper justice with mercy.
He was fined the sum of five hundred Leones or imprisoned at the male correctional center for three months.
Immediately, he was about to be taken to the court lock up, a litigant pledged to pay his fine.