By Hannah Sanusie
38-year-old Abu Bakar Bangura, has been sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment each on two counts charges by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown for stealing and maliciously damaging an Air Conditioner (AC) and its pipes valued at NLe43,000, belonging to one James Michel Bangura.
The accused was arraigned on charges of larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916, and malicious damage, contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act of 1861.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Lapoonda Complex, Cape Road, Aberdeen, Freetown, Bangura stole an air conditioner and its pipes valued at NLe43,000, the property of James Michel Bangura. He was also accused of maliciously damaging the same property.
During the proceedings, the charges were read to the accused, who pleaded guilty to both counts. The prosecution informed the court that Bangura was a first-time offender.
In his plea for mercy, the convict appealed to the court for leniency.
In delivering the sentence, Magistrate John Manso Fornah considered the convict’s plea for mercy and his status as a first-time offender. The court also took into consideration that he had permanently deprived the complainant of property valued at NLe43,000.
Magistrate Fornah sentenced Bangura to 24 months’ imprisonment on count one, with the alternative of restoring NLe43,000 to the complainant or replacing the air conditioner with one of the same type.
On count two, he was also sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, with the alternative of restoring the same type of air conditioner or paying NLe43,000 to the complainant.
The court ordered that both sentences run concurrently, effective from the inception of the matter in court.
The magistrate further ordered that the exhibits be restored to the complainant pursuant to Section 560 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 2024.