By Musa Paul Feika
The prosecution witness, Sallaymatu N. Dumbuya, who is also a nurse, attached to the Cottage Hospital in Freetown, in her evidence before Magistrate Wilbri Hamida Moira John, who presides over at the Ross Road Magistrate Court No. 1, told the court that she saw the accused, Ibrahim Mansaray, a Dragon security guard, who was apprehended by Mustapha Turay, with two bags containing ten computer laptops and nine chargers, which all belong to the Freetown Cheshire Home, located at No. 18 Race Course Road, Cline Town in Freetown.
Madam Dumbuya continued her testimony informing that she recognized the accused as a Dragon security guard, who was manning and protecting the Cheshire Home, and could recall Monday 16th November, 2020.
According to the witness, on that night, at around 2am, she received a telephone call from Dr. Abdulai Dumbuya, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of Freetown Cheshire Home. She said the CEO instructed her to go to the Home, insisting stating that something was about to happen.
The witness said, upon receiving the information, she instantly left for the crime scene and met the accused with two bags containing computer laptops and nine chargers. The accused was apprehended by a security guard of Cheshire Home.
“When I asked the accused how he entered into the compound, he told me that he entered through the back door,” the witness told the court.
Madam Dumbuya recounted that she contacted Mr. Dumbuya and informed him that Mustapha Turay had arrested the accused. She said the complainant came at the scene of crime and called police officers from the Ross Road Police Division.
She noted that a team of police officers visited the crime scene and took photographs. The witness concluded her testimony stating that she made a statement to the police.
In continuation, the police investigating officer, Detective Sergeant 4606 Brima Morkah, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at the Ross Road Police Division in Freetown, told the bench that he recognized the accused and could recall the day in question.
He said, on the 16th November, 2020 at around 2am, he was on duty at the aforementioned unit at the Ross Road Police Division, when the complainant, assisted by Mustapha Turay, apprehended and brought in the accused, who allegedly broke into the office of Freetown Cheshire Home and carted away ten computer laptops, nine chargers and seven Mouse.
He said Detective Police Constable 1780 Kadie Kamara visited the scene and took photographs, adding that, on the 20th November, 2020, he obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused.
PW 3 furthered that, at the end of the statement, the accused admitted it to be true and correct by affixing his right hand thumbprint, which was witnessed by Bangura A.B.
On the 25th November 2020, the witness said he obtained an additional voluntary caution statement from the accused, which was witnessed by Bangura A.B. The additional caution statement, of the accused, was produced and tendered to form part of the court`s records.
He detailed the court that he later visited the crime scene and noticed that the accused damaged both CCTV cameras and the ceiling. “I also discovered a knife,” the witness told the bench.
He rounded up his testimony, saying that, on the 4th December, 2020, he charged the accused with the offences of office breaking, larceny and malicious damage, which are all contrary to law.
The police charge sheet adduces that Ibrahim Mansaray, on the 16th November, 2020, at No. 18 Race Course Road, Cline Town, in Freetown, broke and entered into the office of Freetown Cheshire Home and stole ten computer laptops and nine chargers worth seven two million Leones (Le72,000,000).
According to the police charge sheet, the accused, on the same date and address, maliciously damaged ten computer laptops. ASP Osman Mahamoud Bangura is prosecuting the matter.
Since inception of the matter, the accused have not been legally represented. The accused was denied bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre, Pademba Road in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 26th March, 2021.