By: Audrey Raymonda John
Osman Santigie Kamara a driver, and two mechanics, Alie Koroma and Farah Conteh appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura for allegedly stealing at Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) in Waterloo.
According to the police, the stolen items which includes dashboards, and other valuables worth thousands of Leones.
The accused were arraigned before the court on ten counts charges of conspiracy and other related offences contrary to law.
Police records showed that the accused, on Friday 22nd September, 2023, at the above-mentioned place in Waterloo conspired with unknown persons to commit a crime, to wit, larceny.
On the same date and place, the accused It was alleged that the accused, stole from three vehicles with their registration numbers AMD 726, AJN and AHI 844 certain properties worth one hundred thirty-six thousand, two hundred and sixty leones.
The police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura told the court he hasn’t had enough conference with his witness and sought for an adjournment for him to do have conference with him.
Responding, one of the defence counsel, A.B. Kamara representing the first submitted that prosecution ought to have conference with his witness because the file was made available to him before the matter was mentioned by the court clerk.
Lawyer Kamara wanted the evidence to be tested before the court.
In line with lawyer Kamara’s submission, J. Cobba applied for bail on behalf of the accused, citing to section 79 (3) of 1965 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.
Lawyer Cobba assured the court that the accused are Sierra Leoneans living as ordinary residents in Freetown.
He said they are presumed innocent until otherwise.
He said accused are employed, assuring that if bail is granted to them, they will pose no flight risk.
He assured that they have reliable and credible sureties willing and ready to enter into the cognizance and assured that they will not interfere with the prosecution’s witnesses.
Responding, magistrate Kekura said being that the accused are working for the said institutions and there is likelihood that if they are granted bail, they would interfere with prosecution’s witnesses.
They were denied bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter wasn’t adjourned to Wednesday 1st November, 2023 for further hearing.
