By: Audrey Raymonda John
Twenty-eight-year-old Hassan Jalloh, a labourer, made his second appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on three charges related to housebreaking and larceny, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Wednesday, 17th September 2025, at #28C off Fudia Terrace Spurloop, Wilberforce, in the Western Area of Freetown, Jalloh allegedly broke into the store of Hawa Sesay with the intent to steal. Inside, he is said to have stolen twelve lengths of 1/2-inch iron rods, three 5/8 iron rods, a bundle of wooden fillets, old zinc sheets, thirty cartons of large tiles, and other assorted items, totaling a value of twenty-nine thousand five hundred and fourteen Leones (Le 29,514), the property of Hawa Sesay.
Count two of the charges states that on the same date and at the same location, Jalloh allegedly broke into another store belonging to Hawa Sesay and stole three human wigs, one large dressing mirror, a sheshal pot, empty Afrigas pots, and other assorted items, valued at twenty-four thousand nine hundred and thirty Leones (Le 24,930), the property of Hajah Jariatu Sesay.
Count three further alleges that on the same date and at the same location, Jalloh broke into a third store owned by Hawa Sesay and stole four large local pots, six small-sized local pots, and other assorted items, amounting to a total value of eleven thousand nine hundred and sixty-five Leones (Le 11,965), the property of Fatmata Bangura.
When the charges were read and explained to Jalloh, no plea was taken.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh presented the prosecution’s first witness, Hawa Sesay, a housewife. She testified that she knew Hajah Jariatu Sesay as her daughter and Fatmata Bangura as her mother. She recalled that on 17th September 2025, while she was at home, she received a phone call from her cousin, Hulaimatu Bangura. After their conversation, she stepped outside and saw Jalloh holding a bag in the building. He rushed inside and called for Hajah to bring the keys for the downstairs area. Upon arriving at the scene, Hawa Sesay confronted Jalloh, discovering that the window guards to the store were damaged. The store contained materials such as building supplies
Hawa Sesay stated that she threatened to either take Jalloh to the police station or he could kill her. The defendant was found with a bag containing bedsheets, a plasma TV, scissors, and new lappas. She took a video recording of the incident on her phone and later reported it to the Congo Cross police station, handing over Jalloh to the authorities. Items belonging to her daughter were also handed over as exhibits. The police visited the crime scene, took photographs, and later discovered that several items were stolen, including the tiles and other belongings valued at Le 29,514. Hawa Sesay confirmed that the stolen exhibits were in police custody, while she retained the video footage on her phone and made a statement to the police.
The witness was cross-examined by S.S. Bangura Esq.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Fornah refused bail and remanded the defendant to the male correctional facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 29th October 2025 for further proceedings.