By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone, Munda Fortune a forty-one years old driver, thirty-five years old Osman Kamara a driver, thirty-two Abu Bakarr Bangura a petty trader and twenty-nine years old Godwin Thomas a petty trader on Wednesday, 6 November, 2024, made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown on three count charges to wit Larceny contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916, Accessory after the fact contrary to section 35 of the Larceny Act 1916 and Receiving stolen goods contrary to section 33 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence on Wednesday 24 July 2024 at Lumley the Western Area in Freetown did steal from vehicle with registration number ESQ 730 one black pack bag containing one grey apple lap top computer, Samsung Galaxy S9 plus and other assorted items equivalent to the total value of One Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand and Sixty-Eight Leones (NLE166, 068.00) and other properties of values Cyrus Lusenie.
Count two further stated that on the same date and place the 2nd and 3rd accused persons well knowing that Munda Fortune has stolen one grey apple laptop computer valued forty-two Thousand and Eighty-Four Leones (NLE42,084) thereafter received comforted maintained and assisted the said Munda Fortune to sell same to Godwin Thomas Alias Jay Nice property of Cyrus Lusenie
Count three further stated that on the same date and place the third accused person did receive one grey apple laptop computer valued Forty-Two Thousand and Eighty-Four Leones (NLE42, 084.00) property of Cyrus Lusenie, knowing same to have been stolen.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused they pleaded not guilty.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh Lead Prosecution Witness Number Two Corporal 12038 Musa Shansu Sesay attached to the Criminal Investigation Department Lumley Division
Shansu recalled that on the 24 July 2024 he was on duty at his office when a case of Larceny was assigned to him for investigation he obtained statements from the complainant on the 16 August 2024 himself and Inspector S. Mansaray obtained voluntary caution statement from the accused person in Krio which was recorded in English Language at the conclusion of the statement it was read over and explained to the accused person in Krio Language which he admitted it to be true and correct by afflicting his right hand thumbprint witness by Inspector Sonfian Mansaray and he signed as the recorder the said statement was produce and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit A1-7 on the 8 August, 2024 himself together with the said investigator obtained voluntary caution statement from the second accused person with the same procedure as in the statement of the first accused person and the second accused were produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit B1-6.
He noted that on the 30 July 2024 he together with the said investigator obtained voluntary caution statement from the third accused person as in the first and second accused persons the statement of the third accused person was produce and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit C1-7.
Musa furthered that on the 12 August 2024 they obtained further statement from the third accused using the same procedure as in his caution statement it was produce and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as exhibit D1-6
Sesay added that on the 10 August 2024 he obtained a voluntary caution statement from the forth accused person using the same procedure as in the first, second and third accused persons he produce and tendered the statement of the forth accused person marked as exhibit E1-6
Shansu continued that on the 13 August 2024 a team of police officers conducted a search warrant at the house of the forth accused person one grey apple lap top computer which the complainant identified to be his stolen computer they treated the computer as exhibit and handed it to the exhibit clerk marked as exhibit F
On the same date they obtained further voluntary caution statement from the forth accused person using the same procedure as in the first, second, and third accused persons.
On the 26 August 2024 he finally charged the accused persons for the offences they’re standing trial on the charge statement for all the accused persons was produce and tendered in court to form part of the court records.
The witness was cross examined by the accused persons
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura refused bail based on the seriousness of the offences charged and sent the accused persons to the male correctional facility in Freetown.
However, the case was adjourned to the 14 of November, 2024, for further hearings.
