By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-two-year-old Emmanuel Sahr Kaikai made his final appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on a charge of larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, between Wednesday, 1 January 2025, and Tuesday, 22 July 2025, at No. 23 Cantonment Road, off King Haman Road, Western Area, Freetown, the defendant stole one Lenovo ThinkPad laptop valued at NLe 57,000. Three HP laptops valued at NLe 35,000 each. One Samsung Galaxy tablet valued at NLe 12,000
The total value of the stolen items amounted to NLe 174,000, property of the International Health Projects Administration Unit.
When the charge was read, the defendant pleaded guilty.
Prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police Dialla Wellington informed the court that the defendant was a first-time offender but requested the maximum sentence.
The defendant pleaded for mercy, asking the magistrate to temper justice with compassion.
Magistrate Fornah, after considering the prosecutor’s submission and the defendant’s plea, noted that the stolen items belonged to the Government of Sierra Leone, thereby depriving the Ministry of its property.
He sentenced Kaikai to 36 months’ imprisonment or, alternatively, to restore the stolen items or pay the equivalent sum of NLe 174,000.
The magistrate further ruled that the sentence would be calculated from the inception of the matter in court and must be served in full should the convict fail to restore the stolen items or their value.