By Musa Paul Feika
On Monday 1st March, 2021, Magistrate Wilbri Hamida Moira John, who presides over at the Ross Road Magistrate Court No.1, has sentenced Mawoyah Deen for two years six months imprisonment. He was arraigned before the court with three accused, Binty Kamara, Tommy Thomas and Tunde Kamara, who were jointly charged for the offence of receiving stolen goods. But they were acquitted and discharged by the presiding magistrate because the police prosecutor, ASP Osman Mahmoud Bangura, through the trial, did not establish that the three accused indeed received stolen goods.
The accused were standing trial for stealing offences, including conspiracy, larceny and receiving stolen goods, which are all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
While she was delivering judgment, she stated that the 1st accused was charged with the offences of conspiracy and larceny. She said the 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused were charged with the offence of receiving stolen goods, which is contrary to law.
She noted that the police prosecutor, ASP Osman Mahmoud Bangura, led five witnesses, adding that the prosecution has adduced enough evidence on count one, against the 1st accused. “I therefore sentenced you for two years six month imprisonment.” But, for count two, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused, have all been acquitted and discharged.
Madam John said, for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused, throughout the trial, the prosecution did not establish that they received stolen goods.
According to the police charge sheet, Mawoya Deen and three others, on the 16th July, 2020, at Janner Wright Road, Upgun in Freetown, stole certain valuable properties, including eleven Samsun A50 mobile phones, which are valued at twenty seven million Leones (Le27,000,000), and 31 Tabs A10 I Pads, which are all valued at seventy one million, six hundred and ten thousand Leones (Le71,610,000), properties belonging to Ivan Johnson, while in custody of DHL.