By: Audrey Raymonda John
A military personnel of the Republic of Sierra Leone Arm Forces (RSLAF), Corporal Ibrahim Koroma has on yesterday took the witness stand to narrate how the institution’s vehicle was stolen by unknown men and the engine discovered from Prince Kamara.
The accused Prince Kamara 37, a fitter was charged to court for the offence of receiving stolen goods contrary to section 33(1)of the larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Monday 26th September 2022 Waterloo, the accused received a military Toyota land cruiser ambulance vehicle with registration No.SL 7079 from Josy Koroma knowing the same to have been stolen, valued at Three million, three hundred thousand Leones new Leones, property of RSLAF.
Taking the oath and led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police Ibrahim S Mansaray, the witness corporal Ibrahim Koroma in continuation of his examination in chief said he was at the junction when the accused and others informed that the body they are about to go and take belongs to a secret society.
The witness said the accused mentioned a particular minister who confirmed what the accused told him on the phone.
He said he told the minister on the phone that the vehicle which was carrying the corpse is a military vehicle and that he will not allow it to move ( as per standing order).
The witness said the accused and another pushed him to a ditch and was rescued by some bike riders.
” When I regained consciousness, I did not see the vehicle, I informed my boss WO2 Ketus”, he stated.
In continuation of his examination in chief, the military personnel said he proceeded to Tombo and inquired as to whether they saw the vehicle but the residents answered in the negative.
He said the reported the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department which amounted to an investigation and later informed his boss that they have arrested the accused to whom the engine and gearbox were sold.
The vehicle he narrated about was a green Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number No.SL 7079.
He said he was able to identify the engine number and later he was instructed to make a statement to the police.
Cross Examined by defence counsel N.S Juldeh, the military personnel said he has served RSLAF for twenty-two years and has been an RSLAF driver for fifteen years.
Confronting him about the minister, the military personnel said he did not know his name, he said he was only acting on instructions from his boss the Transport Officer (TO).
He confirmed that the military has a law which stated that they should not give their vehicle out to civilians.
Defence counsel further stated that there is a line of communication between the Colonel, who sent the military personnel and the minister concerning the alleged matter.
At the end of the cross-examination, the defense counsel renewed the application for bail on behalf of his client. He said granting him bail will not amount to flight risk, because he is married to two wives and children. He made the application citing section 79 of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Having heard the defence counsel, Magistrate Marke Ngegba refused the accused bail and adjourned the matter to the 6th of February 2023 and ordered the accused to be remanded at the male correctional facility.