October 15, 2021
By Audrey John
Police Sergeant 1552 Desmond Kargbo a security attached to the Sierra Leone Parliament was on Wednesday 13 October 2021 sent to prison by magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road court No 2 for allegedly stealing chairs and other assorted valued Le15 million.
The accused made his first appearance in court and was arraigned in one count charge of Office Breaking and Larceny contrary to law.
According to the indictment, it was alleged that the accused Desmond Kargbo on 24 August 2021 at parliament building Tower Hill break and entered the said building and stole therein four arm resting office chairs with net on the back and other assorted items to the total sum of le15 million. No plea was taken and no legal representation was made on his behalf.
The prosecution witness No1, Police Constable 18415 Momoh Kanu led in evidence by Inspector Amie Korie recognized the accused as a colleague and further recalled the 24 August 2021.
He said on the aforementioned date, he was on duty at parliament building together with the accused at around 12 am when the accused told him that he was going on patrol around the building and he left. The witness said after the accused had left at around 1 to 3 am he saw a vehicle coming from State House towards parliament and park at the side of the building.
” Immediately the vehicle had parked I saw two men loading the chairs on the said vehicle, I immediately took my gun and went to the scene where the vehicle was and put them under gun point”, he narrated. He said he question them as to what they were doing there and that one of then ask him if the accused had not spoken to him as to what they were doing there.” I order them to return the chairs back to parliament and they did and that later he called the accused and advised him. The witness said whiles they were talking, he saw a police patrol vehicle coming towards them and that on their arrival, one of the police told him that they had reported the accused to the. He said as the patrol team was about to intercept him he ran away but was later caught and brought to the central police station where he said he made statement. The accused was given an opportunity to cross examine the witness but said he has no question for him. Magistrate Ngegba remanded the accused person in prison and adjourned the matter to the 21 October 2021 for further hearing.