June 3, 2021
By: Francis F.M.Harding
Nine workers who have been working for the Semen Construction Company were sent back to the Male Correctional Center at Pademba Road in Freetown. The accused persons were allegedly arraigned in court on two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The Second Police Witness (PW2) Santigie Conteh a security officer attached at the Semen Construction Company New London Rogbana has testified before Magistrate Sahr Keikura of Court No.1 Pademba road Freetown on the 1st June, 2021 in a matter involving Mohamed Bah, Thomas Manu, Suliaman Koroma, Gibril Jalloh, Mohamed Lamin Koroma, Kwesi Earsh, Amara Kanu, Gibrilla Tarawalie and Cardrew George.
Accused persons were charged on two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime and a larceny charge contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the police charged sheets they were charged on two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, to wit, Larceny contrary to Law, and a larceny charge contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The accused persons between 1st January, 2019 and 15th April, 2021, in Port Loko district in the Northern part of Sierra Leone stole a plethora of items, including the Company vehicles, air conditioners, generators, tires, among others, all of which are property of Semen Ghana Construction Company. All of the items worth over four billion Leones.
Testifying in court, PW 2 said he recognized the first accused person in this case and the eight are his colleagues’ security personnel for the company and he knew the complainant Michael Maiwoo PW1. He said he recalled between the 1st January 2019 to the 15 April, 2021on that day he went for work and after handing over to the next security personnel he left two 900 KVA Generator’s valued at over $300,000 USD; equivalent to over three billion one hundred and fifty million Leones each.
The Witness said the next day he went to take over from his colleague security guard and he was given information that thieves came to attack the security guards who was on night duty. He said he went to complain to their security boss Mr. Thomas the second accused person.
The witness stated that police came and took all of us to the Port Loko Police Station and later we were referred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Freetown.
During cross examination, defense council M. Mansaray Esq asked what Second Police Witness has said in the court could be corroborated by the Police. The witness answered in the affirmative. The Defense council Umar Turay asked the witness if he was present during the incident of the theft. The Witness said yes.
The State Prosecutor prosecuting the case is Inspector I.G Fofana while Lawyer M. Mansaray representing the first accused person and Lawyer Umar Turay representing second to nine accused persons. Bail refused for all accused persons. The matter was adjourned to the 3rd June, 2021.