By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-one-year-old Santigie Sesay, a mason, has been committed to the High Court by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on a charge of Larceny in a Dwelling House, contrary to Section 13(a) of the Larceny Act, 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Friday, 7 November 2026, at Upper George Brook, Dwarzark, Mountain Rural District in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused allegedly broke into the dwelling house of Mariama Bangura and stole a blue Samsung A13 mobile phone and a white Apple iPad, valued at a total of Le9,000, the property of Mariama Bangura.
The prosecution, led by DPC 18235 Kebbie Thoronka, called three witnesses before closing its case. The matter was subsequently adjourned for ruling.
Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Fornah stated that he had carefully considered the evidence presented by the prosecution, both factual and formal, together with the exhibits tendered in court. He also considered the caution statement of the accused, in which Sesay admitted stealing Le60 but denied stealing the mobile phone and iPad from the complainant’s dwelling house.
The Magistrate noted that, according to the evidence before the court, the money, phone, and iPad were allegedly kept on the same table on the day of the incident.
He ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the accused and that there was sufficient evidence for him to answer the charge before the High Court.
Consequently, Magistrate Fornah committed the matter to the High Court pursuant to Section 116(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024.
The accused was granted bail in the sum of Le5,000, with one surety in like amount. The surety must be a senior and responsible citizen residing in Freetown with a fixed address and must produce a valid identification card. The bail conditions are subject to approval by the Deputy Assistant Registrar.