By: Audrey Raymonda John
Jimmy Tao Inventory assistance of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industry Walpole street and two others were on Monday 30th October 2023 sent to prison by Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court No1 for an alleged theft of assorted medicines valued NLe 403, 362.100.
The accused persons made their first appearance in court and were arraigned on two counts charges of Conspiracy to commit a crime contrary to law and larceny by servant contrary to section 17(1(a) of the larceny Act 1916.
According to the indictments on count one that the accused persons Jimmy Tao, Daniel Conteh and Morlai Kamara on Tuesday 10th October 2023 at No 6 Walpole street, Freetown with intent to steal conspired together with other person’s unknown to commit a crime to wit larceny by servant.
The police further alleged on count two that the accused persons on the same date at Emzor Pharmaceutical Industry, Walpole street in Freetown being an Inventory assistance/ sale assistance employed by Emzor Pharmaceutical Industry stole 184 pieces of Ulsakit, 38 cups of Em-vit C, 31 cartoons of folic acid, 122 packets of Zolat tablets, 167 packets of Emgyl blisters, 33 cartoon of Emgyl cups, 68 bottles of Lok Mal suspension and others assorted medicines all to the total valued of NLE 403, 362,100 property of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industry.
When the charges were read and explained to them, no plea was taken.
The first prosecution witness Iwalehai Oluwasegun Cosie a Nigerian National in his testimony led by CSP Juan Bull Esq. said he is the supervisor and Inventory assistance at Emzor phamacuetical Industry.
He said he recognized all the accused persons as staff of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industry.
The witness sometimes in September 2023, they discovered that some goods were stolen from the warehouse.
On the 10th October 2023, he said one of their customers called the country manager informing him that the third accused wanted to sell their product to him.
He said base on that information they did a thorough investigation at the warehouse and discovered that some of the medicine including folic acid, Zolat, Lok Mal for adult and suspension, Emgyl cups and others assorted medicines were missing.
He said there were no breakages at the head office at Walpole Street, adding they immediately conveyed a meeting and that in the meeting the country manager asked the first and second accused as to what they know about the missing items but said they claim they know nothing about the missing product.
During the meeting, he said the country manager asked them as to what to do, but he said first and second told him to investigate the matter, adding that due to their response, the country manager informed the CID HQ Pademba road Freetown.
The CID he said initiated a house search and thereafter, himself, the cleaner, the investigator together with first and second accused went to the first accused house, noting that during the cause of the search, they discovered, half cartoon, Em-vit C, Lock Mal for adult suspension, 30 Emgyl cups, emzoron syrup, one role of Em-vit C super, half cup of folic acid, two first aid box and several others assorted items.
The police he said took all the aforementioned items to the station for further investigation.
The witness added that, thereafter they went to second accused and discovered half cartoon of assorted medicines and one roll carpet but said was not with the police when the third accused house was search.
He said after the search at second accused house, they return to the office where the manager asked them to confessed about what they know about the alleged theft, adding that he also advise them that he do not want to take any legal action and asked them to go home and come back.
He said it was the accused persons that urged the manager to investigate the matter.
He said he made statement to the police at CID HQ Pademba road Freetown.
The third accused said he does not know anything about.
Defense lawyer SK Conteh in cross examination of the witness for all the accused persons asked the witness as to what was his designation. He said he is the supervisor and Inventory officers at Emzor pharmaceutical Industry.
He also asked the witness as to who has full custody of the keys to the ware house; the witness said everyone has full custody of the keys to the warehouse but said none of them take the keys to their house.
He put it to the witness that there was no report of breakage at the warehouse, the witness said yes.
Lawyer Conteh also asked the witness that he did not see any of the accused taking the items to their houses, he replies in the affirmative.
He also confronted the witness that throughout their service he has never reported an incident of theft against the accused persons, the witness reply in the negative and said there were no breakage.
He also put it to the witness that all the items he alleged were never found in possession of the first and second accused persons, the witness in reply said the items were found in their possession.
Defense Counsel applied for bail on behalf of the accused persons noting that they will not jump bail and had reliable sureties.
He added that the accused has work for the company for over 10 years. His application was made pursuant to section 79 sub sections 3 of the criminal procedure Act No32 of 1965.
Magistrate Ngegba refused bail on the grounds that he wants to hear the evidence.
The matter was adjourned to Thursday 2nd November 2023.