Investigating Officer Testifies

By Musa Paul Feika

Detective Police Constable 13140, Vandi Moiwo, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Regional Ross Road Police Division, in Freetown, on Friday 2^nd October, 2020, has testified before Magistrate Alhaji Suliaman Koroma, of the Ross Road Magistrate Court No.1, in the ongoing larceny trial involving four accused, namely Mawyo Deen, Binty Kamara and two others, who are standing trial for allegedly stealing certain valuable properties worth millions of leones , which are properties of DHL  international.

The witness continued his evidence noting that he recognized the accused as well as the complainant, Alfred Desmond Bangura, who currently works for DHL international Sierra Leone and could recall Friday 17^th July, 2020.

According to Mr. Moiwo, on that fateful day, he was on duty at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Regional Ross Road Police Division, in Freetown when the complainant reported a case of larceny.

The witness added that the matter was assigned to him by Detective Sergeant 1078 Kamara M., for further investigation. He said on the same date, he obtained a statement from the complainant regarding the allegation.

On Monday 20^th July, 2020, the witness went on, he received some intelligence from a reliable source, adding that, upon receiving the information, himself and a team of police officers, from the Ross Road Police Division, left the Attouga Mini Stadium, Upgun in Freetown, where the 1^st accused was arrested with one Samsung mobile phone.

He said the accused was taken to the Ross Road Police Division for further investigation. The witness recounted that the complainant, Alfred Desmond Bangura, was called upon at the said division to identify the said mobile phone. Alfred Desmond Bangura however identified it as one of the alleged stolen items.

Mr. Moiwo said, on the same date, he received an intelligence from another reliable source and, according to him, based on the intelligence, himself, the complainant and  a team of detective police officers from the same division, in Freetown, left for the 2^nd accused`s residence, where a search was conducted. He noted that, during the course of the search, he discovered one Samsung mobile phone in her possession, which the complainant later identified as one of the stolen goods.

He said, after the search, the 1^st accused, Binty Kamara, signed the endorsed search warrant with her right hand thumbprint to confirm to the searching team that nothing was carried away or stolen by the searching team. The endorsed search warrant was produced and tendered in court to form part of the case file.

On diverse dates between 20^th July 2020 and 25^th August, 2020, the witness informed that he obtained voluntary caution statements from all accused, adding that, at the end of their statements, they admitted them to be true and correct by affixing their right hand thumbprints separately, and this was witnessed by Detective Sergeant 4606 Conteh B.M.

The voluntary caution statements, of all the accused, were produced and tendered to form part of the court`s records. Mr. Moiwo said, on 23^rd July 2020, he obtained a statement from one Mr. Ivan Johnson, who happens to be the owner of the alleged stolen goods.

On the 5^th August, 2020, the witness concluded his evidence that he charged the accused with the offences of larceny and receiving stolen goods, which are all contrary to law.

During the cross-examination, by one of the defence counsels, Randy S. Bangura, from Legal Aid Board (LAB) Sierra Leone, he put it to the witness that, according to exhibit G1-10, which is the statement of the complainant, the vehicle was stuck in traffic and the door to the vehicle was opened, unknown to him till someone else drew his attention that the vehicle was opened. The witness answered yes.

Mr. Bangura further asked the complainant whether he investigated that bit of evidence. In reply he said no. He eventually put it to the witness that he did not properly investigate the 1^st accused. The witness said he did.

Lawyer Bangura attempted to renew his application for bail on behalf of the 1^st accused, but bail was vehemently refused and the accused was sent on remand at the Male Correctional Centre, Pademba Road in Freetown.

However, bails of the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th accused remain in force and the matter will come up again on the 8^th October, 2020.