By Musa Paul Feika
The accused, Sorie Koroma, is standing trial at the Ross Road Magistrate Court No.2, which is presided over by Magistrate George Samai, for allegedly breaking into the dwelling house of the complainant and carted away certain valuable items worth millions of Leones.
The alleged incident took place on Thursday 27th August, 2020, along Bai Bureh Road in Freetown.
The police prosecution witness, Detective Police Constable 1799 Samuel Kabia, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at the Kissy Police Division, in his testimony before the court, said that he recognized the accused, as well as the complainant therein and could recall Thursday 27th August, 2020.
Mr. Kabia furthered that, on that fateful day, he was on duty at the Criminal Investigation Department at the Kissy Police Division in Freetown, when the complainant reported a matter of house breaking and larceny. The witness added that the matter was assigned to him by Detective Sergeant 1062 Koroma Mohamed, for investigation, stating that he obtained a statement from the complainant.
He noted that himself and the complainant visited the alleged crime scene, adding that, upon their arrival, he noticed that the door of the complainant was damaged which, he said, photographs were taken by the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO), whose name was not mentioned.
The witness recounted that, during the course of the investigation, he discovered a T-shirt at the crime scene, which was allegedly owned by the accused. Similarly, Mr. Kabia said, in the course of the investigation, the accused identified some of the alleged stolen items to him.
He said he took the discovered items to the Kissy Police Division in Freetown, and handed them over to the Exhibit Clerk.
Sometime in August 2020, the witness stated that he obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused, adding that, at the end of the statement, the accused admitted it to be true and correct by fixing his right hand thumbprint, which was witnessed by Detective Inspector Abdulai Mohamed Kamara. It was produced and tendered in court, marked as exhibit A1-4.
On the 31st August, 2020, the witness concluded his testimony, detailing that he charged the accused with the offence of house breaking and larceny, which are all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone. The charge statement of the accused was produced and tendered to form part of the court`s records.
During questioning, by the defense counsel, Randy S. Bangura, from the Legal Aid Board (ALB) Sierra Leone, he put it to the witness that, during the course of the investigation, the accused told him that he went to the Kissy Police Division, in the night, to make a report of robbery. The witness replied in the affirmative.
Mr. Bangura further put it to the witness that, the accused told him of the time he went to the Kissy Police Division, where he made a report to the police officers who were on duty that night. In response, the witness answered no.
Lawyer Bangura again asked the witness whether he investigated that bit of evidence. Mr. Kabia answered yes, but there was no evidence to ascertain the allegation.
According to the police charge sheet, Sorie Koroma, on the Thursday 27th August, 2020, at Bai Bureh Road in Freetown, broke and entered into the complainant’s dwelling house and stole viable properties worth millions of Leones.
The accused was refused bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre, Pademba Road in Freetown. The matter will come up again on the 9th November, 2020.