By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone- Kelfala Kargbo, a 25-year-old Caretaker; Issa Tarawally, a t35-year-old businessman; and Mohamed Tarawally, a 52y-year-old labourer on Monday, 13th January, 2025, made their first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No1 in Freetown.
They were before the court on four count charges of felony, store breaking and lacerny, receiving stolen goods contrary to Section 26(1) and 33(1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the Court documents on count one and two, sometime in May, 2024, at Olufumi Drive Gloucester Village, the accused conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a felony- to wit store breaking and lacerny- entered into the store of Olufumi Lola Johnson and stole one power rush generator, thirty pieces of three quarter plywood, nineteen and half bags of cement, one submissive pump machine, one roll water conduct pipe and other assorted items – all to the total value of Three hundred and Three thousand, eight hundred and fifteen Leones,(NLE303,815/00), property of Olufumi Lola Johnson.
For count Three and four on the above date and place, Issa Tarawally did receive one power rush generator, seven tons of iron rods, two tons of 8 mm. iron rods, and five tons of 15 mm. iron rods, and one submissive pump machine- property of Olufumi Lola Johnson, knowing same to have been stolen.
In a bid to make progress, ASP. Ibrahim Mansaray led in Detective police officer Fatu Tarawallie attached at CID headquarters, said she recognized the complainant and the accused persons in this matter.
She revealed that on the 22nd October 2024, she was on duty, when the complainant arrested and brought in the first accused person and made a report.
She said upon that, the matter was assigned to her for further investigation and she obtained statements from the complainant and her witnesses.
She furthered that herself, together with SOCO officer Detective 13274 Bangura H., the first accused person, and the complainant visited the scene of crime; and upon arrival, they noticed that the store of the complainant was damaged, and the SOCO officer took snapshot of the scene.
Tarawallie said on the 24th October, voluntary cushion statement was obtained from the first accused person by Dpc 13274 Bangura H. in krio; and she recorded it in English, which he admits to be true and correct by afflicting his right hand thumb print.
The voluntary cushion statement has been in police custody and was produced and tendered to form part of the court’s records.
On the same date, herself together with the team of investigators and the complainant, was led by the first accused to the house of the second accused person; and upon their arrival, the first accused person identified the second accused, and she identified herself as police officer; and that they persuaded the accused person to search his shop.
Upon that, the complainant was asked to identify the items that were missing, she identified the generator, iron rods, ply wood, and PVC which the second accused denying that it doesn’t belong to the complainant.
After the search warrant and on their way to the CID headquarter, they met the third accused on the way, and he was identified by the first accused, whose shop was searched, telling them that the water pump was sold to him by the first accused.
She said they were all arrested and brought at the CID headquarters; and that upon arriving at the office, all the items were handed over to the exhibit Clark, and voluntary cushion statement was obtained from the second and third accused persons separately by Detective 13274 Bangura H. in krio, which she signed as the recorder, which they admitted to be true and correct by afflicting their rights hands thumb print.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Kekura granted bail to the first accused person who was unrepresented by any legal counsel in the sum of two hundred thousand Leone and one surety who should produce valid national identity card and should be within the jurisdiction.
Bail continues for the second and third accused persons. The matter was adjourned to the 28th of January, 2025, for further proceedings.
