By: Audrey Raymonda John
Julius Aruna Mongoh, a 20-year-old scrap metal collector, made his first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown on two charges: malicious damage, contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act of 1861, and larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Saturday, 1st February 2025, at the Government Printing Department in New England Ville, Western Area, Mongoh allegedly caused malicious damage to four air conditioners, valued at 30,000 Leones each, totaling 120,000 Leones. The air conditioners were property of the Government Printing Department.
The second charge stated that, on the same date and location, Mongoh is accused of stealing the same four air conditioners, again valued at 120,000 Leones in total.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused, he pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Inspector Kadie M. Taylor presented evidence through Prosecution Witness No. 2, DPC 14283 Mariama Fatmata Bah, who is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at New England Ville Police Station.
Witness Bah testified that on 1st February 2025, she was on duty when the complainant arrested and brought the accused person to the station, along with the exhibits, which were the damaged air conditioners. The complainant reported the matter, and the case was assigned to Bah for investigation. She handed over the exhibits to the exhibit clerk and, together with Scene of Crime Officer Sergeant 10783 Nyallay A.M., visited the crime scene at the Government Printing Department.
Bah described the damage to the air conditioners and took photographs of the scene using her Tecno Spark 10 mobile phone. These photos, which were developed and printed, were produced and tendered in court as Exhibit A. Bah also stated that she obtained statements from the complainant and other witnesses.
On the same day, Bah, together with Sergeant Nyallay, cautioned and questioned the accused person in Krio, with the statement recorded in English. The accused person admitted the charges, confirming the statement with his thumbprint. This voluntary caution statement was produced and tendered in court as part of the court records.
On 3rd February 2025, Bah and Sergeant Nyallay formally charged the accused with the offence he is standing trial for, using the same procedure as the caution statement. The charge statement was also produced and tendered in court to form part of the records.
The accused person was not legally represented in court.
Magistrate Kekura granted the accused bail in the sum of 200,000 Leones, with one surety in the same amount. The surety must reside in Freetown and provide a valid identity card with an address in the city. Bail was to be approved by the Deputy Assistant Registrar. The matter was adjourned to 26th March 2025.
