By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-seven-year-old Abu Bakarr Conteh made another appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on a charge of robbery with aggravation, contrary to Section 23(1)(a) of the Larceny Act 1916, as repealed and replaced by the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021 No. 2 of 2022.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Thursday, 7 May 2026, at Bismark Johnson Street in the Western Area of Freetown, the defendant, allegedly armed with a pair of scissors, robbed Miatta Fambulleh of one black and ash-coloured cross bag, body spray, one black head tie, one lip gloss, three Yale locks, and one Tecno Pop 10 mobile phone, all valued at Six Thousand Nine Hundred and Sixty Leones (Le6,960).
When the charge was read and explained to the defendant, no plea was taken because the matter is before the court as committal proceedings.
Led in evidence by DPC 18235 Kebbie Know Thoronka, prosecution witness number one, Inspector Mohamed K. Kamara, attached to the Central Police Station, testified that he recognized both the complainant and the defendant in the matter.
The witness recalled that on 7 May 2026, while on duty at the station, the complainant and her husband brought the defendant to the police station and reported a case of robbery with aggravation against him. He stated that the matter was assigned to him for investigation.
Inspector Kamara further testified that he obtained statements from the complainant and other witnesses, which were produced and tendered in court as part of the prosecution’s evidence.
He also informed the court that he issued the complainant a police medical request form, which was later returned with an endorsed medical report. The report was also produced and tendered in court.
According to the witness, on the same date, he and DPC 17939 Kamara obtained a voluntary caution statement from the defendant. He explained that the defendant was cautioned in Krio, while the statement was recorded in English. At the conclusion of the interview, the statement was read and explained to the defendant, who admitted it to be true and correct by affixing his right thumbprint. The witness signed as the recorder, and the statement was tendered in court.
Inspector Kamara further stated that on 11 May 2026, together with DPC 19246 Max A.B. Bangura, he formally charged the defendant with robbery with aggravation, following the same procedure used during the caution statement process. The charge statement was also produced and tendered before the court.
The witness was cross-examined by the defendant.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Fornah refused bail and ordered that the defendant be remanded at the male correctional facility in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to 29 May 2026.