By: Audrey Raymonda John
The preliminary investigation into the alleged theft of a medical machine valued at US$37,100 continued before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown, where two businessmen, Abdul Jabba Mansaray and Joseph Bellon, appeared on multiple criminal charges.
The accused are facing five counts, including conspiracy, larceny, obtaining money by false pretences, and receiving stolen goods, contrary to the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the charge sheet, the first accused, Abdul Jabba Mansaray, allegedly conspired with persons unknown on 13 January 2026 at No. 3 Bathurst Street, Freetown, to commit larceny.
The prosecution further alleges that on the same date and at the same location, Mansaray stole a Vivid IQ Echo Machine valued at US$37,100, the property of Professor Dr. James Russell.
The third and fourth counts state that on 28 and 29 January 2026, at No. 3 Bathurst Street, Freetown, Mansaray allegedly obtained Le2,500 from Fatmata Jullet Nicolls and Le1,015 from George Russell through Orange Money by falsely claiming that the funds were needed as transportation costs to retrieve and deliver the stolen Vivid IQ Echo Machine, knowing the representation to be false.
The fifth count alleges that the second accused, Joseph Bellon, between 13 January and 28 January 2026 at Kossoh Town, Freetown, dishonestly received the Vivid IQ Echo Machine, knowing or having reason to believe that it had been stolen.
When the charges were read and explained in court, no pleas were taken from either accused.
Led in evidence by Prosecutor Y. I. Sesay, the fourth prosecution witness, Detective Sergeant Inspector (DSI) Mohamed Vandi, attached to the Operations Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters at Pademba Road, testified that he recognized both the complainant and the accused persons.
He told the court that police conducted a search at the second accused’s business premises, during which an iPhone 11 Pro Max was seized. Bellon was subsequently arrested and taken to the CID Headquarters for investigation.
According to the witness, the second accused was cautioned and questioned by Inspector B. A. Munu in Krio, while his responses were recorded in English. At the conclusion of the interview, the statement was read back and explained to him in Krio. After confirming its accuracy, he affixed his right thumbprint, while Inspector Munu signed as the recorder. The statement was produced and tendered in evidence as Exhibits R1–R8.
DSI Vandi further testified that on 2 April 2026, the police submitted a request for forensic examination and analysis of several electronic devices, including a Samsung Galaxy A15, Itel Power 900, Afrina D50,000, and the seized iPhone 11 Pro Max, in connection with the alleged conspiracy and larceny case. The request letter was tendered as an exhibit, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max was identified before the court as Exhibit X.
The witness also stated that on 9 April 2026, the first accused was formally charged with conspiracy, larceny, and obtaining money by false pretences. He was cautioned and questioned in Krio, with his responses recorded in English. After the statement was read and explained to him, he confirmed its correctness by affixing his right thumbprint, witnessed by Inspector B. A. Munu. The statement was admitted into evidence as Exhibits T1-T2.
On the same date, the second accused was also charged with receiving stolen goods. Following the same procedure, his statement was recorded, read back to him in Krio, and admitted into evidence as Exhibits U1-U2 after he confirmed its accuracy.
The witness further informed the court that on 25 April 2026, DPC 18291 Kamara, a cyber analyst, photographed the first accused. The printed photographs, together with images of the bag allegedly used to carry the stolen machine, were produced in court and admitted as Exhibits W1-W2. Vandi said the first accused was confronted with the photographs during the investigation.
Defence counsel A. B. Sesay, representing the first accused, and C. Campbell, representing the second accused, renewed their earlier bail applications and proceeded to cross-examine the witness.
After hearing submissions, Magistrate Fornah refused bail, citing the seriousness of the offences before the court. Both accused were remanded, and the matter was adjourned to 6 July 2026 for the continuation of proceedings.