By: Audrey Raymonda John
Twenty-three-year-old student Alhaji Issa Kamara has been granted bail after appearing before Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown on a charge of larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on September 7, 2026, at Siaka Stevens Street in Freetown, Kamara allegedly stole ten metres of copper-plated electric cable valued at Le1, 500 per metre, bringing the total value to Le15, 000. The cables are alleged to be the property of the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA).
When the charge was read and explained to him in court, Kamara pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution’s first witness, Sahr Jimmy, a contract staff member of EDSA who said he had worked with the authority for one year and six months, told the court that he received information about the alleged theft on September 7, 2026, at around 4:30 p.m., while he was in the office.
According to the witness, he was informed that the defendant had been taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters on Pademba Road in Freetown. He subsequently visited the scene and discovered that the copper-plated cable had been cut off.
Jimmy told the court that the cable was valued at Le15, 000 and belonged to EDSA. He said he later went to the CID headquarters, where he identified the exhibit as the property of the authority. He also confirmed that he made a statement to the police.
Counsel representing the defendant renewed and adopted his previous bail application, urging the court to grant Kamara bail.
Magistrate Jah subsequently granted the defendant bail in the sum of Le50, 000, with one surety in like sum. The surety must be a Sierra Leonean resident within the Freetown jurisdiction and must produce a valid identity card for identification.
The bail was ordered to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to October 15, 2026, for further hearing.