By: Audrey Raymonda John
Umaru Kargbo, a 29-year-old former manager of Saboath Construction and General Merchandise Company, made his first appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 in Freetown on charges of Larceny by Servant, contrary to Section 17(1)(a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the charge sheet, between Tuesday, 2nd April 2024, and Friday, 29th November 2024, at Zenith Bank, Rawdon Street in Freetown, Kargbo allegedly stole the sum of Two Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand Eight Hundred Leones (Le292,800.00) from Account Number 6010184525. The funds belonged to his employer, Saboath Construction and General Merchandise Company.
The prosecution, led by Inspector M.K. Taylor, called its first witness, Cyril K. Jusu, a civil engineer, who identified the accused and confirmed he had been a manager at the company.
Testifying before the court, Mr. Jusu stated that in December 2024, he visited Zenith Bank to check the status of the company’s account, to which the accused was a signatory. He said he was shocked by the balance, which did not match the company’s expected funds. Upon receiving the account statements from the bank’s accountant, he reviewed the discrepancies and tendered the statements in court as Exhibit A.
Following the testimony, Prosecutor Taylor requested a short adjournment to continue the case.
Defense counsel I.J. Sesay applied for bail on behalf of the accused, arguing that Kargbo is a Sierra Leonean and a resident within the court’s jurisdiction. He further stated that the charge remains an allegation under Section 23 of the 1991 Constitution and assured the court that the accused would not interfere with witnesses or abscond if granted bail. He referenced Sections 79(2) and 79(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965 to support his application.
However, Magistrate Jah denied the bail application due to the seriousness of the offense and ordered the remand of the accused at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to Monday, 30th June 2025.