-Complainant Narrates
By: Audrey Raymonda John
Princess Ade Coker resident of Wellington has explained how Abdulai Kanu a thief that was invading her premises got caught. The compliantant Madam Coker described the accused person as the evil spirit that was tormenting her. She made this statement while testifying in court yesterday.
The accused on the above matter Abdulai Kanu was arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No 1 after police investigation for house breaking and larceny contrary to section 2 of the larceny Act of 1916.
It was alleged on the charge sheet that on Sunday 23rd July 2023 at No.26 Beccle Street Wellington, the accused break into the premises of complainant Ade Coker and stole properties worth over four million Leones.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police Osman Mohamed Bangura, Complainant recognized the accused as her neighbor. She said on Sunday 23rd of July 2023, she went to Saint Thomas Church Hastings and return in the evening.
Complainant said on arrival she said trying to open her door when she heard someone by the fence. “My lord I decided to take a glance and to my surprise saw the accused and shouted thief”, she stated.
Complainant said when she went inside she discovered that the celling to the parlor was damaged and from what she saw she decided to inspect the house.
Explaining further, complainant said she entered on of the room and there she observed the celling was also damaged.
“I immediately alert my neighbors and tell them to arrest the accused if at all they happen to come across him”, she said.
Complainant said on the next day she went and reported the matter at Congo Water Police post.
Highlighted what was missing complainant said his sugar machine, pressure machine, stabilizer, Coleman, bag of rice and other properties missing.
Explaining with tears at the dock, complainant said she later realized that some of her personal belonging were also missing.
She said statement was obtained from her at the police post and the police send the crime scene officer to go and take photographs of the damage celling and the ransacked house.
Complainant said she was at home one afternoon when she heard her neighbors calling ‘mami Ade cam oo, we don arrest Abdulai”, she said.
She said she came out and surprisingly saw the accused holding an iron bar to go and broke the fence. ” I instructed my neighbors to take him to Congo Water Police post where I identified him as the evil spirit that was tormenting me”.
Suggesting the price of the properties stolen, complainant said the total value is more than what the police wrote on the charge sheet.
Advocating for his client defense counsel E Koroma applied for bail for an on behalf of the accused citing section 79 sub section 2 of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965. Among other things defense counsel said if granted bail he will not interfere with the prosecution neither jump it. He also said bail is at the discretion of the Bench and it is that discretion he is canvasing.
Having heard the application of bail made by the defense, magistrate Kekura refused the accused bail based on the seriousness of the offense and adjourned the matter the 22nd of August 2023 for continuation.