By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No. 1 has remanded a cart pusher, Alhaji Conteh alias Carte at the Male Correctional Center on Pademba Road in Freetown for the offences of conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to law, and larceny to section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The accused was arrested on 12th April 2023 at Shell New Road in Freetown.
It was alleged by the police that the accused, on 19th March 2023 at Texaco Lorry Park, Leonco Filling Station in Freetown, conspired with unknown persons to commit a felony, to wit, larceny.
The charge sheet furthered that Alhaji Jalloh, on the same date and place in Freetown, stole from Mercedes Benz with registration number ATM 959 a black back Pack contained cash of NLe3,000 leones, a Samsung Galaxy S9 plus, valued at four thousand leones (Nle4,000) totalling NLe7,000 belonging to Dr Murtala Mohamed Antator.
Prosecution witness (PW) 2, Mohamed Smart residing at Texaco Lorry Park in Freetown told the court that he recognised the complainant and the accused as a cart pusher. And could recall Sunday 19th March 2023.
PW2 said on that day, he was at the said place when the complainant parked his vehicle registration number ATM 959 at Texaco Lorry Park, adding that the accused suddenly arrived at the scene with a piece and started whipping the complainant’s vehicle, even though he told him not to so.
He said the complainant locked his vehicle, but the accused raised the nub so that the vehicle cannot lock unknown to the complainant.
He said the complainant, which is also (PW)1, thought that he had locked the vehicle and he went to a nearby restaurant to buy food.
‘I saw the accused quietly opened and carted away the missing bag’.
PW 2 said when the complainant returned and opened his vehicle, he complained that someone has stolen from his vehicle.
He said it was based on that he told him that he knew the person who carted away his bag.
The witness said PW 1 asked and promised him some money if he helped him to get the suspect arrested.
On the following day, he said he, the complainant and military personnel, whose name was not mentioned, apprehended the accused at Shell New Road while whipping President Bio’s billboard, subsequently accused was conveyed to Texaco Police Post where he made a statement.
Though the accused was not legally represented, Magistrate Kekura accorded him an opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
During cross-examination by the accused, he asked the witness whether he was at the crime of scene when the alleged incident occurred to which, he responded in the affirmative.
He asked the witness if he knew the colour of the purported bag.
In response, he said the bag was black in colour.
The accused asked the witness if he could tell the court on which day he was arrested.
Responding, he said he was arrested at Shell New Road while he was whipping President Bio’s billboard.
The accused was refused bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Center on Pademba Road in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 18th May 2023 for further hearing.
Police Constable (PC) 19576 Sesay I is prosecuting the matter.