By: Audrey Raymonda John
Three masons have been remanded in custody after appearing before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on charges of larceny and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The accused 37-year-old Alimamy Dumbuya, alias “Dedeh,” 31-year-old Charles Lahai, and 37-year-old Abdul Davidon made their first court appearance on Wednesday, 25 February 2026. They face two counts: Larceny contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916, and Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.
According to the police charge sheet, on Saturday, 31 January 2026, at Dadley Street, Regent Village, Freetown, Western Area, the defendants allegedly stole one Samsung Galaxy S21 mobile phone valued at Twelve Thousand Leones (Le12,000), one brown bag valued at Five Hundred Leones (Le500), and cash amounting to Six Thousand Eight Hundred United States Dollars (US$6,800), equivalent to One Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand One Hundred and Sixty Leones (Le161,160). The total value of the stolen property is estimated at One Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand Six Hundred and Sixty Leones (Le173,660). The items are said to belong to Mohamed Gabriel Conteh.
Count two alleges that on the same date and at the same location, the defendants assaulted Mohamed Gabriel Conteh, causing him actual bodily harm.
When the charges were read and explained in court, all three defendants pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dialla Wellington, called its first witness, Mohamed Kabbie Conteh, a businessman, who identified all three defendants in court.
Testifying before the court, Conteh stated that on 31 January 2026, he had gone to Regent with his surveyor, Hassan, to survey his land. He said he saw the defendants carrying bricks to another section of the land and asked them to stop, warning that he would report the matter to the police.
According to the witness, as the surveyor commenced work, the defendants verbally abused him. He testified that the first defendant was armed with a cutlass, the second with a stone, and the third with a stick, and that they attacked and beat him all over his body. He further alleged that the second and third defendants took his bag containing documents and cash, while the first defendant forcibly took his mobile phone.
Conteh told the court that he sustained injuries to his hand and other parts of his body. He reported the incident at the Regent Police Station, where he was issued a medical request form for treatment at Connaught Hospital.
Defence counsel M.S. Sumaru applied for bail on behalf of the defendants, arguing that they have reliable sureties who would guarantee their appearance in court. He cited Section 76(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2024.
However, Magistrate Fornah refused bail on the grounds that the defendants might interfere with prosecution witnesses. He ordered that all three accused persons be remanded in custody.
The matter was adjourned until 26 February 2026 for further hearing.