By: Audrey Raymonda John
A cyclist, Hassan Mammy Bah had been convicted to six month imprisonment at the Male Correctional Service on Pademba Road in Freetown.
Bah pleaded guilty of the receiving stolen goods.
He was arraigned before Justice Monfred Sesay at the High Court of Sierra Leone, situated on Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown.
Prosecutor counsel, Musa K. Johnson alleged that the convict, on 22nd February 2023, in Freetown, received a 32 inches plasma TV valued at Nle 2, 700 and other valuables worth thousands of leones belonging to Unisa Mohamed Turay.
During his second appearance the convict, told Justice Sesay that he had earlier on denied the allegation druing preliminary investigation, adding that but when he had realised that he was guilty of the offense as charged.
He further admitted purchasing the said items from the accused.
He confessed that he had returned the items to the complainant.
As a result, the charge was read to him to which he pleaded guilty.
Looking at brief fact of the matter, the 5th accused, the prosecutor said he relied on the evidence of the first prosecution’s witness and confirmed indeed that the 32 inches plasma TV had been returned to the complainant.
Justice Sesay being that the accused has pleaded guilty to the offence charged, he sentenced the convict six months imprisonment.
In his plea of mitigation, the convict pleaded with the court for mercy and informed the bench that his mother is seriously sick.
He told the court he had two children and he is a bread winner of the family.
Buttressing, Randy S. Bangura from Legal Aid Board (LABSL) told the court the convict don’t waist the court’s time and pleaded guilty to the offence.
Before the incident, lawyer Bangura said the convict was a cyclist and a young man with brighter future.
Bangura pleaded with the bench to temper justice with mercy while giving his judgment, disclosing that if his client given a custodian sentence, it will deprive the kids and that he had learnt his lesson while in custody.
He said his client don’t benefited the said property.
Responding, the prosecuting counsel, asked the judge to sentence the convict to a year as he has spent eight months on remand.
In his ruling, Justice Sesay having heard both counsels, he sentenced him to six months imprisonment considering the time he had spent in custody.
