By: Audrey Raymonda John
Ibrahim Conteh, a 22-year-old welder, was again arraigned before Magistrate Adama Kandeh at Pademba Road Court No. 4 on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, on a charge of larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at Mongage Bathurst Village, Gloucester Saddle, Freetown, in the western area of Sierra Leone, Conteh is accused of stealing six male sheep, each valued at Eight Thousand Leones (Le8,000), totaling Forty-Eight Thousand Leones (Le48,000), the property of Sahr Pessima.
When the charge was read and explained, the defendant pleaded guilty.
The prosecution, led by Inspector A. T. Bangura, called prosecution witness number two, Bismerall Brewah, Police No. 13820, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at Hilltop Police Station. Brewah testified that on October 5, 2025, while on duty, the complainant reported the theft of six male sheep by the defendant, each valued at Le8,000. Brewah stated that he recorded a statement from the complainant and from the defendant in Krio, translating it into English. The defendant acknowledged the statement as true, affixed his thumbprint, and signed the document, which was witnessed by Inspector Dumbuya. The statement was produced and tendered as Exhibit A1-4.
Brewah further testified that on October 6, 2025, he and other officers executed a search warrant at Kissy Old Town, where the defendant had claimed the sheep were located. However, the sheep were not found. As a result, the defendant was charged with larceny.
Brewah also noted that he obtained a further statement from the defendant, which was again recorded in Krio, translated into English, and signed by the defendant with his thumbprint, witnessed by Inspector Dumbuya. This statement was marked as Exhibit B1-3.
At the time of the hearing, the defendant was not legally represented.
Magistrate Kandeh withdrew the case file for further ruling and remanded the defendant to the male correctional center in Freetown. The case has been adjourned until November 11, 2025, for sentencing.