By: Audrey Raymonda John
Amadu Marrah, arrested on March 25, 2025, is facing four charges: House Breaking and Larceny, Malicious Damage, Wounding, and Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm, all contrary to sections 26, 51, 20, and 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.
The charges stem from an incident on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at Wilberforce Barracks, Freetown, where Marrah allegedly broke into the home of Mabinty Bangura with the intent to steal. He is accused of stealing a black button phone valued at Le 300, the property of Mabinty Bangura.
In court before Magistrate Mamakoh Saio Kallon, PW1, Mabinty Bangura, a businesswoman residing at AB7 Wilberforce Barracks, identified Marrah as her neighbor. She recounted that on the morning of the incident, around 4–5 a.m., she was asleep when she heard noise at her window. Initially dismissing it, she went back to sleep, only to wake up and find the accused inside her room.
Bangura shouted “Thief!” and attempted to prevent Marrah from escaping. In the ensuing struggle, she claimed Marrah injured her right hand with scissors, dragged her left leg, causing pain, and stole her black button phone. The stolen phone was later recovered by the police.
She called her son, Mohamed, but by the time he arrived, she had already been injured. Her husband, Santigie Bangura, later arrived and assisted in handing the accused over to military personnel. Bangura was then taken to Connaught Hospital for treatment and subsequently reported the incident to Congo Cross Police Station.
During cross-examination, defense counsel ISY Kamara questioned the truthfulness of the witness’s testimony. However, Bangura maintained her account, stating that there was light during the incident and that Marrah was wearing black clothing. She also admitted that the Le 400,000, which was allegedly stolen, was never found on the accused, but the scissors used to injure her and the stolen phone were returned to her by the police.
Magistrate Kallon remarked that the matter was serious and that Marrah’s actions could have resulted in the victim’s death. He also criticized the accused for resorting to crime instead of seeking honest work.
The case was adjourned to August 14, 2025, for the testimony of the victim’s son.