By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 has sentenced Alpha Umaru Newland to 36 months imprisonment for larceny and malicious damage involving property belonging to the Ministry of Finance.
Newland was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment on Count One and 18 months on Count Two, with both sentences ordered to run concurrently at the Male Correctional Centre.
The court heard that on Monday, March 23, 2026, at the Ministry of Finance on George Street, Freetown, Newland stole one generator control system copper cable valued at Le137,000 and two 100-amp batteries valued at Le4,500 each, bringing the total value of the stolen property to Le146,000.
The particulars of the offence further stated that on the same date and at the same location, Newland maliciously damaged one set of generator control system copper cable valued at Le137, 000, property of the Ministry of Finance.
Newland appeared before Magistrate Fornah to answer to charges of larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act, 1916, and malicious damage, contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act, 1861.
During the proceedings, Newland was convicted on both counts before the matter proceeded to sentencing.
In his ruling, Magistrate Fornah took into consideration that Newland was a first-time offender and had pleaded for mercy.
On Count One, the Magistrate sentenced Newland to 36 months imprisonment, while on Count Two; he sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment.
The Magistrate ordered that both sentences run concurrently at the Male Correctional Centre and that the period Newland had already spent in custody be taken into account as part of his sentence.
The matter was accordingly concluded