By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-year-old businessman Joseph Yamba and twenty-seven-year-old chief Mohamed Kargbo made another appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 on two-count charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, on Monday, 26 January 2026, at Chapter One Club area, Beach Road, Lumley in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused persons allegedly conspired together with others unknown to commit a crime, namely larceny.
The second count stated that on the same date and at the same location, both defendants, with intent, allegedly stole from Mohamed Lebbie one iPhone 16 Pro Max and other assorted items, with a total value of seventy-five thousand three hundred and thirty Leones (Le 75,330), all property of the complainant.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendants, the first accused pleaded not guilty, while the second accused pleaded guilty.
Prosecution Witness No. 1, DPC 11686 Yayah Jabbie, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Lumley Police Station, testified that he recognized both the complainant and the defendants in the matter.
He recalled that on 5 February 2026, while on duty with Inspector I.S. Kamara, the first defendant was brought in on a report of larceny. A black power bank was presented as an exhibit, which the complainant identified as part of the stolen property. On the same date, the witness obtained a voluntary caution statement from the first defendant, who later mentioned the second defendant, leading to his arrest.
The witness further stated that he, together with Inspector I.S. Bangura, obtained another voluntary caution statement from the first defendant in Krio, which he recorded in English. The statement was read over and explained to the defendant, who confirmed it to be true by affixing his right-hand thumbprint. The statement was duly witnessed and signed by the recording officer.
On 11 February 2026, a request was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) regarding the first defendant.
The witness added that on 5th, 16th, and 26th February 2026, he and Sergeant 8773 Bangura F.B. formally charged the defendants using the same procedure as with the caution statements. The charge statements were produced and tendered in court as part of the records.
He also testified that on 6 February 2026, a search warrant was executed at the residence of the first defendant. During the search, several national identity cards were recovered and tendered as exhibits. The search warrant was signed by the first defendant’s girlfriend and the second defendant, and it was also admitted into evidence.
Defence counsel M.B. Bah requested a short adjournment.
In his ruling, Magistrate Jah remanded the second defendant to the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown for sentencing, following his guilty plea. The first defendant was granted bail in the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand Leones (Le 250,000), with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a Sierra Leonean resident in Freetown and must produce a valid national identity card. Bail is to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar. The matter was adjourned to 16 April 2026.