By Musa Paul Feika
One Saidu Kanu has made his first appearance before Magistrate Alhaji Suliaman Koroma, of the Ross Road Magistrate Court No.1, for allegedly robbing the complainant, Yusuf Mansaray, twenty six (26) mobile phones and other valuable items worth millions of Leones.
The police prosecution witness, Yusuf Mansaray, in his evidence, told the court that he recognized the accused and could recall Friday 15th August, 2020.
According to him, on that fateful day, he was at home sleeping, when he saw the accused and three other men who broke into his room, adding that, upon their entry, the 1st accused hit him seriously on his chest and he fainted.
Mr. Mansaray added that the 1st accused and his men carted away twenty six mobile phones, ten Bluetooth and two million five hundred thousand Leones (Le2, 500,000).
The witness further testified that, on the following day, he reported the matter to the Wellington Police Division in Freetown, where he was issued with a police medical request form for treatment at the Government Rokupa Hospital, Wellington in Freetown.
He said when he returned the endorsed medical paper to the police he made a statement to the police, stating that a team of police officers, from the above mentioned Division, visited the alleged crime scene at No. 21 Peacock Farm Wellington, in Freetown. He said, upon their arrival at the scene of crime, photographs were taken by the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO), which, according to him, were later developed into pictures and were produced and tendered in court for identification.
According to the police charge sheet, on Friday 15th August, 2020, at Peacock Farm Wellington, in Freetown, the accused robbed the complainant certain valuable properties worth millions of Leones.
The defence counsel, Ibrahim Fofanah, defending the accused, applied for bail on behalf of the accused by citing Section 79 (2) and (3) of the Criminal Produce Act No. 32 of 1965.
Bail was refused and the accused was sent on remand at the Male Correctional Centre, Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to 23rd September, 2020.