By: Audrey Raymonda John
The first defendant in an alleged theft case, businessman Abdul Jabba Mansaray, on Monday, August 10, 2026, appeared before Magistrate Manso John Fornah at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 in Freetown, where he was cross-examined by the prosecution.
Mansaray and the second defendant, businessman Joseph Bellon, are facing five counts ranging from conspiracy to commit a felony, larceny, obtaining money by false pretences, and receiving stolen goods, contrary to the Larceny Act of 1916.
The charges include conspiracy contrary to law; larceny contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916; obtaining money by false pretences contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act 1916; and receiving stolen goods contrary to Section 33(1) of the same Act.
According to the charge sheet, Mansaray, on January 13, 2026, at No. 3 Bathurst Street, Freetown, allegedly conspired with other persons unknown to commit larceny.
Count two alleged that on the same date and at the same location, Mansaray stole one Vivid IQ Echo Machine, valued at US$37,100, allegedly belonging to Professor Dr. James Russell.
Counts three and four alleged that on January 28 and 29, 2026, at No. 3 Bathurst Street, Freetown, Mansaray, with intent to defraud, obtained Le2,500 from Fatmata Jullet Nicolls and Le1,015 from George Russell through Orange Money.
The prosecution alleges that Mansaray obtained the money under the pretext that it would be used as transport fare to produce the stolen Vivid IQ Echo Machine, knowing the representation to be false.
Count five alleges that Bellon, between January 13 and 28, 2026, at Kossoh Town, Freetown, received the Vivid IQ Echo Machine valued at US$37,100 from Mansaray, knowing it to be stolen property belonging to Professor Dr. James Russell.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused persons, no plea was taken.
During the proceedings, Prosecutor Y. I. Sesay, Esq., led Mansaray through his evidence.
Mansaray told the court that on March 26, 2026, while at his residence in Hill Station, he received a telephone call from his girlfriend, Princess Makiatu Gassama, who told him that she wanted to see him.
He said she arrived at about 2:30 p.m. while he was sitting in his living room watching television. According to Mansaray, his phone was on his lap when police officers entered and grabbed him by the neck.
He testified that he struggled with the officers, causing his phone to fall onto a rug. He said he picked it up and attempted to call his brother, but the officers instructed him not to make any calls until they reached the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters.
Mansaray told the court that the police showed him a search warrant authorizing them to search his residence for a stolen machine. He said the search was conducted but nothing of interest to the police was found.
He further alleged that during the search, a police officer, whom he identified as Mr. Lebbie, entered his room in the presence of family members and took Le250 from his bag and pocket as an exhibit.
He also alleged that the officers seized his Samsung Galaxy A16, which he said was in good working condition, one manual-button phone, and another Tecno Android phone from his room.
Mansaray said he was subsequently taken to CID headquarters, where a statement was obtained from him concerning his arrest in connection with the alleged stolen machine. He said he denied knowledge of the allegation before signing the document.
He further testified that he was detained and later taken to the office of the head of CID, Mr. Jalloh, where he met the complainant.
According to Mansaray, he was asked whether he knew the complainant and replied that he did not. He also denied knowledge of the stolen Echo Machine.
Mansaray alleged that he was subsequently subjected to torture and threatened with further torture if he failed to provide information about the machine.
He told the court that he was later taken to an area in Benghazi, where he was allegedly shown pepper spray and a pistol and threatened with further physical harm if he did not disclose information.
Mansaray said that, due to fear and panic, he eventually told the officers that he had given the machine to a man whose name he did not know at the time.
He further testified that he was detained at a cell in Benghazi, where he allegedly spent the night with two other suspects.
According to him, on March 27, 2026, he was taken out of the cell and allegedly assaulted by officers who demanded that he produce the machine. He said he was then taken in a vehicle to Jui, where he identified a shop, but the shop was locked.
Mansaray told the court that the following day, officers showed him a photograph of the second defendant, Joseph Bellon, together with his telephone number, and asked whether he knew him. He initially denied knowing Bellon.
He alleged that he was subsequently subjected to further torture before officers returned with Bellon’s photograph and accused him of being the person to whom he had given the machine. Mansaray said he eventually answered in the affirmative.
He testified that they later returned to Jui after being informed that the shop previously found locked was open. However, Bellon was not at the shop at the time. He said Bellon was later arrested at his residence.
Mansaray further alleged that he and Bellon were taken to Benghazi, where they were detained for three days without food.
He said officers later attempted to obtain another statement from him, but he refused, maintaining that he had already given a statement at CID headquarters.
Mansaray told the court that he was allegedly tortured again before eventually making another statement the following day.
He said that after spending several days in detention, he and Bellon were taken to CID headquarters in April 2026, where they were subsequently charged and brought before the court.
Mansaray was subsequently cross-examined by the state prosecutor.
Following the cross-examination, Magistrate Fornah adjourned the matter for an address by the state prosecutor.
The case was adjourned to September 14, 2026, for further proceedings.