By: Audrey Raymonda John
Fifteen-year-old Milford King, a plumber, and Nyakeh Lahai Kallon, a mason, appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown on two counts: housebreaking and larceny, in violation of Section 25(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the charge sheet, on Monday, March 3, 2025, at No. 3 Kamara Drive, Milton Margai College Road, Freetown, the accused allegedly broke into the dwelling house of Amina Mans and stole a sum of four thousand new Leones, which was the property of Amina Mans.
In the second count, on the same date and location, both accused are said to have broken into the dwelling house of Miss Sarika Kamara, stealing one engagement gold and diamond ring valued at $200 USD (equivalent to 2,400 Leones), one Apple AirPods Pro valued at $200 USD (equivalent to 4,880 Leones), one large tin of Vaseline valued at 500 new Leones, one HP computer valued at 5,000 new Leones, one 1TB hard drive valued at 2,400 Leones, and other assorted items, all valued at a total of 39,870 Leones, which belonged to Sarika Kamara.
When the charges were read, the accused did not enter a plea.
Inspector Bangura M. led the testimony of the first witness, Amina Mans, a businesswoman. She recognized both accused persons in the dock and identified the complainant as her son. Mans recounted that on March 3, 2025, while at her shop, she received a call from her daughter, Marissa Mans, who informed her about the situation at home.
Upon her arrival, she discovered that the veranda ceiling, dining room ceiling, her daughter’s room ceiling, and her own room ceiling had been badly damaged. She noticed that the kitchen door was damaged, and her room door was left open.
When she entered her room, she found her bed in disarray, and her church bag, which contained 3,000 new Leones, was missing. The bag had been left on the bed, along with some church cards. She also found that a box where she kept money, containing 1,000 new Leones, had been opened and the money was gone.
Upon further inspection, she found a shirt that did not belong to her on her bed. She then contacted her daughter to inform her son’s friend, George, who arrived at the scene. George said he would investigate the shirt and went to Milford King’s house, where he showed King’s father the shirt, which he identified as belonging to his son.
Milford King was arrested by George and brought to the scene, where Amina Mans then left for the Adonkia Police Station to report the matter. Police officers accompanied her back to her home, where they arrested Milford and took him to the station. Amina Mans later made a statement to the police.
The defense counsel applied for bail on behalf of the accused. Magistrate Kekura granted bail to the first accused, Milford King, in the sum of one hundred Leones with one surety, who must reside within the jurisdiction and provide a valid identity card. Bail was refused for the second accused, Nyakeh Lahai Kallon.
The matter was adjourned to April 1, 2025.