By Henry Kargbo
Hon. Justice John Bosco Alieu of High Court No 1 yesterday 16 March 2023 remanded one Jabati Gendemeh to the Male Correctional Centre at Pademba Road for alleged house breaking and larceny.
The accused is before the court for three count charges of house breaking and Larceny contrary to Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act, 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, it was alleged that on 10 January, 2019 at Freetown in the Western Area of Sierra Leone, Jabati Gendemeh broke and entered the dwelling house of Emmanuel Mohamed Kamara with intent to steal. He stole therein fiscal cash amounted to Le 15,000,000.
Count two, the accused Jabati Gendemeh was also on 10 January 2019 at Freetown in the Western Area of Sierra Leone, broke and entered the dwelling house of Emmanuel Mohamed Kamara with intent to steal and stole therein six pairs of sneakers all valued Le2, 100, 000 (Two Million One Hundred Thousand Leones) property of Alusine Edward Conteh in the same dwelling house of Mohamed Kamara.
Count Three, the accused Jabati Gendemeh on 10 January, 2019 at Freetown in the Western Area of Sierra Leone, broke and entered the dwelling house of Emmanuel Mohamed Kamara with intent to steal and stole therein one Tecno Spark 5 mobile phone valued at Le 2.500,000 (Two million Five Hundred Thousand Leones).
Testifying in court, PW2 Detective Police superintendent 10007 Josephus Musa attached to the Adonkia Police Station Wednesday 15 March, 2023 testified in court of the alleged house breaking by one Jabati Gendemeh.
According to Detective Musa, he recognized the accused person in the dock, and recalled on 10 January 2019, whiles on duty at the Adonkia Police Station one detective sergeant Conteh brought in the accused person along with one blue mobile phone which have one million Leones orange money intact, one black bag, black T-shirt and sum of Seven Hundred and Nine Leones.
He said that after receiving the exhibit from Inspector Conteh, he handed it to the exhibit clerk for safe keeping.
He said he together with the Senior Crime Officer visited the scene of crime and took photos therein. He said the CD plate that contained the CCTV footages of the accused person was also handed over to the SCO.
He narrated that from the scene of crime they returned to the Adonkia Police Station with the said exhibit which was also handed over to the Exhibit Clerk for safe keeping.
He said upon arrival at the police station, he took his statement and witnessed by D.P.C 19688 MO.
PW3 Marie Kamara a business woman also testified in court that she recognized the accused person as a closed neighbour. She recalled on 10th January, 2019 that on their way from church service together with her husband and three kids, they were alerted by a neighbour that the same accused had stolen from their house.
She said her husband tried to chase the accused but he ran away. She added that they went into their house and observed that some of their property was missing. On viewing the CCTV camera, she said the accused was clearly spotted.
She said after reviewing the CCTV, they called the father of the accused to confirm the involvement of his son.
She told the court that this is third time that the accused had robbed them, adding that the father could not say anything but permitted them to further their case to the police.
She narrated that she later called on Inspector Conteh and reporter the matter. A search was conducted and the accused was hook and brought to the Adonkia police station.
Prosecuting the matter was Lawyer A. Kargbo and defended by C Tucker.
Hon. Justice John Bosco Alieu adjoined the mater to 5th April, 2023 and ordered the Exhibit Clerk to tender the exhibit to the court on the adjoined date.
