By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 has sent a Cloudnight Security guard, Peter Mattia at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown for allegedly breaking into Mohamed Juldeh Bah ‘s store situated at Jui Highway and stole there six thousand United States ($6000), equivalent to thirty thousand Leones (NLe30,000) and other valuables worth thousands of Leones.
Peter Mattia who was arrested 13th July 2023 by Detective Police Constable DPC 10201 Kpaka C appeared before Magistrate Kekura on two counts charges of store breaking and larceny, malicious damage contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
It was alleged by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) that the accused, on Monday 3rd July 2023 at Hastings Highway in Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone stole five hundred and sixty thousand United States dollars ($5,600) equivalent to eighty-nine thousand, four hundred and fifty-one Leones (NLe88, 451) and twenty eight thousand Leones (NLe28,000) belonging to the complainant, Mohamed Juldeh Bah.
The charge sheet furthered that the accused on the same date and place in the outskirts of Freetown, maliciously damaged the complainant’s shop door, padlocks worth thousands of Leones.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who doubles as the head of prosecution team at the aforesaid court, prosecution witnesses (PW) 1, Mohamed Juldeh Bah in his evidence told the court that he recognized the accused as security guard he hired from Cloudnight Security Company to man his shop and recalled Monday 13th July 2023.
PW 1 disclosed that on the said date, between the hours of 8am and 9am, he received a phone call from his younger brother, Ibrahim Bah who gave him information about the said incident.
The witness said upon receiving the information, he instantly left for the crime scene at Hastings Highway, adding that upon his arrival, he observed that his shop door was damaged, two padlocks was also damaged and he saw hammer at the crime scene.
At this juncture, the police prosecutor Assistant Superintendent of Police ASP Osman M. Bangura sought for an adjournment for him to have proper conference with his witness application which was granted.
The accused was denied bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown. Meanwhile, the matter was adjourned to 2nd August 2023 for further hearing.