By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Shar Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 has sent a Labourer, Ibrahim Koroma 22 years old at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown for allegedly breaking into Franklyn Taylor’s store and stole copper cables valued at one thousand, two hundred leone (NLe1,200).
Ibrahim was arraigned before the court on two counts charges of store breaking and malicious damage contrary to Malicious Damage Act of 1861.
It was alleged that the accused , on Saturday 27th May, 2023 broke into the complainant’s store and stole therein copper cable worth NLe1,200.
Prosecution witness (PW) 4, Detective 10224 Alusine Farma Kamara attached to the to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division recognized the accused including complainant.
Kamara said he recalled on Saturday 27th May 2023.
He said on the day in question, he was on duty at the aforesaid unit, at the Regional Ross Road Police Station when the complainant arrested and brought in the accused with some copper cables.
The witness said the complainant made a report case against the accused, adding the matter was assigned to him for investigation.
On the same day he added that he obtained statements from the complainant and witnesses.
He disclosed that he and the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) including other police officers visited the crime and the SOCO took photographers of the scene.
Kamara said when they returned to the station, he and Detective Police Constable (DPC) 13294 Bernard M obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused, which he admitted to it to be true and correct by affixing his right hand thumbprint witnessed by Detective Police Constable 18653 Campbell R. E.
The accused’s voluntary caution statement was produced and tendered marked exhibit “B1-7”
On Wednesday 31th May 2023 he charged the accused with aforementioned offences contrary to law.
The accused’s charge statement was tendered in evidence.
The unrepresented accused told the bench that he had no questions for the witness.
Response, the police prosecutor, Chief Inspector Isatu Bangura told the court she had closed her case for prosecution.
The accused is still on bail and the matter was adjourned to 30th November, 2023 for ruling.