By: Audrey Raymonda John
Sylvester Morovia, a 21-year-old caretaker, made his first appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, facing two charges: Store Breaking and Larceny, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act 1916, and Larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at Thompson Bay off Wilkerson Road, Freetown, in the Western Area of Sierra Leone, Morovia allegedly broke into the store of Jerminatu Sallamatu Fabai with intent to steal. He is accused of stealing two air conditioners, each valued at NLe 7,000, totaling NLe 14,000, and two vehicle batteries, each valued at NLe 2,200, totaling NLe 4,400, bringing the total value of the stolen goods to NLe 18,400.
In the second count, Morovia is accused of stealing one vehicle battery from a car with registration number ASP 809, valued at NLe 2,200, belonging to Jerminatu Sallamatu Fabai.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken.
The prosecution’s first witness, Jerminatu Sallamatu Fabai, a student at IMPAT College, recognized the accused as her cousin. She recalled that between July 23 and 26, 2025, an incident occurred involving her and the accused. Fabai’s uncle, Tejan Saidu, had asked her for the vehicle key, but when she went to retrieve it, the key was missing from its usual spot.
Jerminatu then called the accused, who also had access to the store, to inquire if he had seen the key. He suggested that they search for the vehicle, and later, he handed over the spare key to her uncle, who discovered that the vehicle battery was missing but the car was undamaged.
Jerminatu testified that when she confronted the accused, he denied knowledge of the missing key and battery. She then searched his room, where she found the missing vehicle key. She also checked a second store, where her mother kept some items, and discovered that two air conditioners were also missing.
Jerminatu further stated that her uncle, Mr. Sankoh, had seen the accused attempting to sell the air conditioners. She subsequently reported the matter to the Congo Cross Police Station, where the accused was arrested and taken into custody. She also confirmed that the total value of all the stolen items was NLe 20,600. Her statement to the police was produced as evidence and marked as Exhibit A1-5.
The accused, who was not legally represented, cross-examined the witness during the proceedings.
Magistrate Fornah refused bail and remanded the accused to the Male Correctional Center in Freetown. The case was adjourned to August 20, 2025, for further proceedings.