By: Audrey Raymonda John
Twenty-three-year-old Abdul Karim Kargbo has been discharged by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown after the prosecution failed to produce witnesses in a case of Shop Breaking and Larceny, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at B&S Junction, Hill Top, Hill Station, in the Mountain Rural District, Western Area, Freetown, Kargbo allegedly broke into the shop of Abdulai Conteh with intent to steal.
He was accused of stealing 19 locks, four Yale handle locks, two boxes of steel nails, six pliers and other assorted items, all valued at Le10,810 and belonging to Conteh.
When the charge was read and explained to Kargbo, no plea was taken as the matter was at the committal proceedings stage.
The prosecution was represented by Sergeant 8811 Florence Wilson, who told the court that she had made several attempts to contact the complainant but was unsuccessful.
She further informed the court that a subpoena had been served on the formal witness, but the witness also failed to appear in court.
Counsel for the accused, K. Williams Esq., applied for Kargbo to be discharged, arguing that the prosecution had failed, on several adjourned dates, to produce any witness, including the complainant.
In his ruling, Magistrate Fornah, after hearing submissions from both the prosecution and defence, ordered that Kargbo be discharged and the matter brought to an end.