By Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-two-year-old Daniel Alpha, a cleaner, has been remanded by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 after appearing before the court on two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime contrary to law and larceny contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The accused is alleged to have committed the offences on Friday, July 10, 2026, at No. 3 MacDonald Street, Western Area, Freetown.
According to the particulars of the offence, Alpha allegedly conspired with other persons unknown to commit larceny. The second count alleged that he stole one MacBook, 17 computer laptops and cash amounting to Le7,000, with the total value of the alleged stolen property stated to be Le31,000, belonging to Arfan Turay.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken, as the matter is before the court for committal proceedings.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sorie Conteh, called its first witness, Arfan Turay, a lawyer and businessman attached to Digital Chambers.
Testifying before the court, Turay said he knew Joel Benjamin Vincent, Demba Barrie and Mannah Massaquio as his colleagues and identified the accused as a cleaner who worked at the chambers.
He recalled that on July 10, 2026, at about 8:45 a.m., he was in his office when he saw the accused cleaning with a towel.
Turay told the court that he questioned the accused about why he was cleaning the office so early, as it was unusual. According to the witness, the accused replied that colleagues had been complaining that he was not cleaning their office, which was why he had decided to clean it early.
The witness said he subsequently placed his bag on a chair in his office and went to greet his boss, Teddy Koroma, Esq. He added that he instructed the accused to wait in his office.
Turay further testified that, after greeting his boss, he and his colleagues returned downstairs to their office. He said he later received a call from his senior colleague, Demba Barrie, who asked him to accompany him to the High Court.
According to Turay, they returned to the office after attending Friday proceedings and prayers, where he again saw the accused sweeping the office.
He said he questioned the accused for the second time, but Mannah Massaquio advised him to allow the accused to continue cleaning.
Turay testified that he then placed his belongings in his bag and went for prayers. He said his i7 MacBook and Le7,000 in cash were inside the bag at the time.
The witness told the court that his computer was valued at Le17, 000 and that the office keys had been handed to the accused before they left for prayers.
Upon their return, Turay said the accused was nowhere to be found, although he met his colleague, Joel Benjamin Vincent, in the office.
He subsequently discovered that his laptop and Le7, 000 cash were missing from his bag.
Turay said the accused was not present for him to question him about the missing items. He added that his senior colleagues sent him to the Lumley Police Station to report the matter.
The witness further testified that he later returned home at about 6:00 p.m. and contacted his colleagues, who denied knowledge of the missing property.
He said he subsequently contacted the gateman, who allegedly informed him that immediately after they left for prayers, he saw the accused, together with his wife and a child, entering the compound.
Following the testimony, the prosecution requested a short adjournment.
However, Magistrate Fornah refused bail, citing the seriousness of the allegations, and remanded the accused.
The matter has been adjourned to August 27, 2026, for further proceedings.