By Musa Paul Feika
One Kalilu Kijan is standing triall at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 4, which is presided over by Magistrate Rugiatu Sesay, for allegedly stealing two hundred thousand head pans of granite (200,00) stones, valued at ten million leones (Le10,000,000), property of the complainant, Umu Sesay.
The incident took place on 24th October 2019 at Police Beach House, Goderich, in the western part of Freetown.
The police witness, Detective Police Constable 5213, Osman Mohamed Bangura, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Adonkia Police Division in Freetown, told the court that he recognized the accused and could recall the day in question.
According to him, he was on duty at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), at Adonkia Police Division when the complainant, Umu Sesay, reported a matter of larceny to the CID Unit for further investigation.
The witness said the matter was assigned to him for investigation. He said, on the same date, himself, Detective Sergeant 11640 and the complainant visited the crime scene at Police Beach House in the western area of Freetown.
The witness added that, upon their arrival at the crime scene, the Scene of Crime Officer (SOSO) took photographs of the crime scene. He said he developed them into photos and they were produced and tendered in court for identification.
Mr. Bangura said, when they returned to the Adonkia Police Division, he obtained statements from the complainant and her witnesses.
On the 8th November 2019, the witness said he apprehended the accused on warrant signed by Magistrate Sahr Kekura.
He added that, on the same date, he obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused, which he said the accused admitted to be true and correct, and was witnessed by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mansaray.
Mr. Bangura said, on the 11th November 2019, he charged the accused with the offence of larceny, an offence which is contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the police charge sheet, Kaililu Kijan, on the same date, at Police Beach House in Freetown, stole two hundred head pans of granite stones (2000), valued at ten million leones (Le 10,000,000).
The accused was granted bail with the sum of twenty million leones (Le 20,000,000) with two sureties in like sum. The bail conditions furthered that the sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction and bail should be approved by the Master and Registrar.
Due to long cross examination by the defense, the matter was adjourned to 27th August, 2020.