By: Audrey Raymonda John
Keifala Daboh, a 22-year-old labourer, made his first appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Wednesday, 12th June 2025, on three count charges including malicious damage, escaping from lawful custody, and disorderly behavior.
The charges are as follows: Count One: Malicious Damage contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act, 1861,
Count Two: Escaping from Lawful Custody (Police Custody) contrary to Section 23 of Cap 179 of the Laws of Sierra Leone.
Count Three: Disorderly Behavior contrary to Section 12 of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965, as repealed by Section 15 of Act No. 2 of 1973.
According to the particulars of the offense, on Friday, 30th May 2025, at Aberdeen Police Station in the Western Area of Freetown, Daboh maliciously damaged a police cell door valued at Three Thousand New Leones (NLe 3,000) property belonging to the Sierra Leone Police.
Further, while in custody awaiting trial, Daboh escaped from lawful custody, and on the same date and location, he was also reported to have behaved in a disorderly manner.
When the charges were read and explained to him in court, the accused pleaded guilty to all three charges.
The state prosecutor, 18235 Thoronka K., relied on the facts as charged and led the testimony of Sergeant 11044 P. B. Smart and Constable 17789 Kargbo, both attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Aberdeen Police Station.
Sergeant Smart testified that the accused was interviewed in connection with the alleged offenses. Constable Kargbo recorded the accused’s voluntary caution statement in English, after explaining it to him in Krio. The accused confirmed the content of the statement and affixed his right thumbprint to signify agreement.
The voluntary caution statement was tendered in court and marked as Exhibit A1–4, while the charge statement was marked as Exhibit B1–3.
Given the serious nature of the offenses, Magistrate Fornah refused bail and remanded the accused to the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown. The case was adjourned to 20th June 2025 for final record and sentencing.