By: Audrey Raymonda John
Dauda Kamara, Zachariah Swaray and Bai Fullah Kamara Alias I.T appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 in Freetown for allegedly breaking into Sierra Leone Fishing Company situated at Kissy Dockyard in Freetown and steal two welding machines, zummertible Pump, welding cable, electrical cable and other valuables totalling one hundred and sixty-eight thousand, eight hundred and five Leones (NLe168, 805) belonging to Sierra Leone Fishing Company.
The accused were arraigned before the court for the offences of conspiracy, store breaking, larceny and receiving stolen goods contrary to law.
It was alleged by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that accuseds, Dauda Kamara Alias Kakay Junior, and Bai Fullah Kamara Alias I.T, on Monday 21st August, 2023 at Kissy Dockyard in Freetown, conspired with unknown person broke into Sierra Leone Fishing Company and stole therein the aforesaid valuables valued at NLe168, 805.
It was alleged that Zachariah Swaray, on the same date at Government Boatyard Compound, in Kissy Dockyard Freetown, received a welding machine valued at forty-four thousand Leones (NLe44,000) belonging to Sierra Leone Fishing Company.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura, prosecution witness (PW) 1, Ahmed Al-Saleh a Syrian national, who doubles as the chief security officer working for Sierra Leone Fishing Company said he recognized the accused and could recall 21st August, 2023.
The Syrian national told the court that on the day in question, he received a call from the second accused, instructing to go to the crime scene.
Ahmed said upon receiving the information, he left for the crime scene and when he arrived there, the second Alias T. I told him that the first accused, Dauda Kamara wanted to explain something to him.
PW 1 further stated that the second accused gave him information about the first accused, upon receipt of the information; they conducted a search behind the store.
During the search, he said he discovered that the window guard was damaged and removed, adding that he instructed the first accused co-workers to bring him before him, which they did.
The witness said he then instructed the first accused to hand over his mobile phone to him, but he refused and jumped into the sea.
Ahmed noted that warranted him to report to the top management level at Sierra Leone Fishing Company being that the store keeper, whose name was not mentioned, was not around by them.
At this stage the police prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura, sought for adjournment for him to have proper conference with his witness, which was granted by Magistrate Kekura.
Before the adjourned date, defence counsel A.B. Kamara renewed and adopted his previous application for bail on behalf of the first accused.
Responding, Magistrate Kekura denied the first and the second accused bail and were remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown while bail of the third accused, Bai Fullah Kamara continues.
The matter was adjourned to 27th September 2023 for further examination in chief.