July 14, 2021
By Audrey John
Haja Fatu Bah, Amara Yakuba Kanden, and Hawa Bah made their first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Keikura at Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on four count charges ranging from Conspiracy to wit Larceny in a dwelling house contrary to section 13 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the charge sheet it was alleged that Haja Fatu Bah, Amara Yakuba Kandeh and Hawa Bah on the 14th June 2021 at the presidential Lodge, Hill station Freetown the western area in Freetown conspired together and with other persons unknown to steal from Fatima Maada Jabbie Bio the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) equivalent to the total sum of one hundred and fifty million Leones (150, 000, 000).
The counsel representing both accused persons is Lawyer Sigismund Conteh who raised preliminary objection touches and concerns counts 2 and 3 of the information contrary to the offence.
Lawyer Conteh said after perusing the Larceny Act 1916 there is no provision for such within the Larceny Act 1916 that one cannot stand trial for a non-existing offence.
He said that section 105 of CAP No.32 of 1965 cannot be exercised without being prejudicial to the accused persons in the dock and section 23(7) of the 1991constitution.
Lawyer Conteh applied for bail after addressing the bench on the bail regulation.
He applied for bail for and on behalf of both accused persons that the first and second accused persons are minor and that the third accused person is also injured and she is using crutch.
He said they have fixed abodes and they are not a flight risk and as of now there is no evidence before the court to proving that the accused persons are repeated offenders and he made the said application pursuant to section 79(2) of CAP No.321 of 1965.
Magistrate Keikura on his ruling on counsel’s application said having heard the application for bail on behalf of all accused persons and in perusing the affidavit in opposition and rule 7(a) and (c) of the bail regulation 2018, he granted bail to each accused person in the sum of two hundred and fifty million Leones each or two sureties each in like sum the sureties must be elderly and responsible citizens.
One of the sureties must be gainfully employed from a recognized institution and they should produce their employment letter and identity cards of their respective institutions.
The other sureties should be permanently resident in Freetown and they should produce identity cards depicting their addresses in Freetown to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Register (DAR).
ASP Aminatu Daboh is prosecuting the matter which is adjourned to the 21st July 2021.