By: Audrey Raymonda John
Eighteen-year-old nurse Elizabeth Konneh was on Tuesday sentenced to 30 days imprisonment by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 after pleading guilty to one count of larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to court records, the incident occurred on Tuesday, 11th June 2025, at Crabtown, Aberdeen, in the Western Area of Freetown. Konneh was accused of stealing by trick a Tecno Spark mobile phone valued at Two Thousand Five Hundred Leones (Le2,500), the property of one Sheka Papa Sesay.
When the charge was read and explained, Konneh immediately pleaded guilty.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, the prosecutor, informed the court that the accused had no prior criminal record and confirmed the facts as charged.
Konneh, who was not legally represented, personally pleaded with the Magistrate to temper justice with mercy, citing that it was her first offence and she did not waste the court’s time.
Taking into account the mitigating factors, including her guilty plea, lack of previous convictions, and cooperation with the court, Magistrate Fornah sentenced her to 30 days imprisonment at the Female Correctional Centre in Freetown, with an alternative option to pay a fine of One Thousand Leones (Le1,000) to the state.
The ruling serves as a reminder of the consequences of petty theft while recognizing the importance of judicial discretion in handling first-time offenders.