By: Audrey Raymonda John
Forty-one years old Munda Fortune, a driver; thirty-five years old Osman Kamara, a driver; thirty-two Abu Bakarr Bangura, a Petty trader; and Twenty-nine years old Godwin Thomas, a Petty trader made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road court No.2 in Freetown on three count charges to wit Larceny contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916, Accessory after the fact contrary to section 35 of the Larceny Act 1916 and Receiving stolen goods contrary to section 33 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916
According to the particulars of the offence on Wednesday, 24th July 2024, at Lumley, the western area in Freetown, did steal from the vehicle with registration number ESQ 730 one black pack bag containing one grey Apple laptop computer, Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus and other assorted items equivalent to the total value of one hundred and sixty-six thousand and sixty-eight Leones(166,068) and other properties of Cyrus Lusenie.
Count two further stated that on the same date and place, the 2nd and 3rd accused persons, well knowing that Munda Fortune had stolen one grey Apple laptop computer valued forty-two thousand and eighty-four Leones(42,084), thereafter received comforted, maintained and assisted the said Munda Fortune to sell same to Godwin Thomas Alias Jay Nice property of Cyrus Lusenie.
Count three further stated that on the same date and place, the third accused person did receive one grey Apple laptop computer valued at forty-two thousand and eighty-four Leones(42,084), the property of Cyrus Lusenie, Knowing the same to have been stolen. When the charges were read and explained to the accused, they pleaded not guilty.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh is the lead Prosecution witness number two, Corporal 12038 Musa Shansu Sesay, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department Lumley division.
On the 24th of July 2024, he was on duty at his office when a case of Larceny was assigned to him for an investigation. He obtained statements from the complainant on the 16th of August 2024. Inspector S Mansaray obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused person in Krio, which was recorded in English after the statement. It was read over and explained to the accused person in Krio language, which he admitted to be true and correct by afflicting his right-hand thumbprint witness by Inspector Sonfian Mansaray.
He signed as the recorder the statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit A1-7.
On 8th August 2024, he, together with the said investigator, obtained a voluntary caution statement from the second accused person using the same procedure as the statement of the first accused person.
The statement of the second accused was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit B1-6.
On 30th July 2024, he, together with the said investigator, obtained a voluntary caution statement from the third accused person. As in the first and second accused persons, the statement of the third accused person was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit C1-7.
On the 12th of August 2024, they obtained further statements from the third accused using the same procedure as in his caution statement. It was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit D1-6.
On August 10, 2024, he obtained a voluntary caution statement from the Fourth accused person using the same procedure as for the first, second, and third accused persons. He produced and tendered the statement of the Fourth accused person, marked as exhibit E1-6.
On August 13, 2024, a team of police officers conducted a search warrant at the house of the Forth accused person. They found a grey Apple laptop computer, which the complainant identified as his stolen computer. They treated the computer as an exhibit and handed it to the exhibit clerk, marked as exhibit F.
On the same date, they obtained further voluntary caution statements from the Fourth accused person using the same procedure as in the first, second, and third accused persons.
On August 26, 2024, he finally charged the accused persons for the offences they were standing trial on. The charge statement for all the accused persons was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records. The accused persons cross-examined the witness.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura refused bail and sent the accused to the male correctional facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to November 14th, 2024.
