By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No. 1 yesterday remanded a driver, Mohamed Jalloh alias Star Boy at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown for allegedly stealing one home theater (musical set), 27 android mobile phones, two inches plasma TV fans and other valuables worth eighteen thousand, eight hundred and twenty leones (Le 18820) belonging to Mohamed Tamba Kargbo.
Mohamed Jalloh 24, was arrested on 21 June 2023 by Detective Police Constable 18138 Kargbo L arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura before the court on two counts charges of store breaking and malicious damage contrary to law.
It was alleged by the police that the accused, on Monday 12 June 2023 at Wellington in Freetown, maliciously damaged two fans , six stabilizers, 46 inches smart Plasma TV totalling twenty-six thousand, eight hundred Leones belonging to Mohamed Tamba Kargbo.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman Mohamed Bangura prosecution witness (PW) 1 Mohamed Tamba Kargbo said he recognized the accused and recalled the day in question.
Mr Kargbo said on the day in question, he went to his shop in Wellington Freetown. He said upon his arrival, he noticed that his shop door was opened and the entire shop was ransacked and the container was damaged, adding that he also observed that twenty-seven android mobile phones were missing, eight DVD players, five pieces of LG cards, seventeen (17) wall clocks, four electric irons, two mirror glass were damaged, a home theater, two standing fans, 26 inches LG plasma was damaged and a computer monitor were all missing.
PW 1 said a driver, name withheld, gave him information about the accused. He said upon receiving the information he reported the matter at the Wellington Police Post.
He said he and a team of detective police officers visited the crime scene and took photos of the scene.
The said photographers which were developed into pictures were produced and tendered in evidence.
The witness said subsequently the accused was arrested at Maxwell Street Wellington in Freetown and convened to the aforesaid police post.
On the following day he said he made statement to the police, adding that in his presence when the police interrogated him; the accused confessed to them of selling the stolen items to an Indian national whose name was not disclosed, residing in Wellington Freetown.
He added on same date, police officer conducted a search at both the accused and the Indian’s residence, but nothing of police interest was discovered.
The police prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman Mohamed Bangura applied for the police to charge the Indian national to court on the next adjourned date.
Responding, Magistrate Kekura said the court is not an extension of the police, adding that the police ought to do their job properly.
Though the accused was unrepresented, Magistrate Kekura accorded him the opportunity to cross examined the witness.
During cross examination the accused asked the witness if he was arrested with any exhibits to which he answered in the negative. The accused further confronted the witness that all what he narrated to the court was not true.
In response, the witness said all what he narrated was nothing else, but the truth.
The accused person put it to him that all what he itemized before the court, not all of them he carted away with.
The accused put it to the witness that he didn’t have any receipts for all the items he stole from the shop.
Responding, PW 1 said he had receipts for all of his items.
Magistrate Kekura refused the accused bail and remanded the accused person at the Male Correctional Centre, Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to 2nd August 2023.