By: Audrey Raymonda John
Three men Anthony Kamara (20), a carpenter; Alusine Sesay (25), a labourer; and Josephus Mansaray (25), also a labourer made their first appearance before Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura at Pademba Road Court No. 8 in Freetown on charges of conspiracy and store breaking, contrary to the Larceny Act of 1916.
The accused are charged with the following: Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, contrary to law, Store Breaking and Larceny, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the charge sheet, on May 27, 2025, at the LEOCEM Cement Factory, located on Bett Street, Kanikay, Cline Town, in the Western Area of Freetown, the three men conspired with unknown individuals to break into a lubricant storage unit at the factory with intent to steal.
The prosecution further stated that the accused broke and entered the LEOCEM lubricant store and stole the following items: 208 litres of CLP Oil, 180 litres of EP2 Oil and 208 litres of 15W40 engine oil
The total value of the stolen items is estimated at Sixty-Two Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Eight Leones (Le62,798.00), all the property of LEOCEM Cement Factory.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused persons, no plea was taken.
Detective Police Constable (DPC) 14898 Joseph Lamin Dumbuya led Prosecution Witness 4, Sergeant 10275 Buyah Abu Kamara, attached to the Exhibits Office at Ross Road Police Station.
Kamara testified that one of his duties is to receive and safeguard all exhibits under police investigation and to produce them in court when required. He recalled that on June 3, 2025, while on duty, DPC 11213 Kandeh M.K. handed over to him several items along with case file number 1446/2025.
The items included: Four jerry cans of engine oil, Two plastic buckets of grease, A rope of mixed colours, A pair of plastic sandals and an aluminum ladder
These items were registered in the police exhibit book under serial number RCE 63/2024, and Kamara confirmed that they have been in police custody since. He produced and tendered the items in court, and they were admitted as official court exhibits.
Given the serious nature of the offence, Magistrate Samura denied bail and ordered that the accused be remanded in custody. The matter was adjourned to Thursday, July 17, 2025, for further hearing.