By Musa Paul Feika
One Joseph Cowa, a vehicle mechanic, has made his first appearance before Magistrate Alhaji Suliaman Koroma at the Ross Road Magistrate Court No. 1 for the offence of larceny, which is contrary to law.
Police prosecution witness, Victoria Kamara, in her testimony, told the court that she recognized the accused as a vehicle mechanic, and that she could recall sometime September, 2019.
The witness continued that, sometime in September, 2019, she asked the accused, Joseph Cowa, to inspect her vehicle, which was parked at Ferry Junction in Freetown. She added that the accused and herself went at Ferry Junction where the vehicle was parked and the accused took the said vehicle to his own garage at Hastings, outside Freetown, with the intention to service it.
The witness informed the court that, after some weeks, she went to the accused`s garage at Hastings but she said she met the vehicle parked at the garage. But, according to her, the accused was not around. The witness also told the court that she discovered certain parts of the vehicle had been missing. She further told the court that someone, within the environs, intimated her that the accused had removed the some parts of the vehicle in question.
The witness concluded her testimony, noting that she attempted to contact the accused through her mobile phone, but it was to no avail. The witness said this prompted her to report the matter to the Kissy Police Station in Freetown, and the accused was apprehended, adding that she was called upon at the said station.
The accused was standing trial on one count charge of larceny, which is contrary to law.
According to the police charge sheet, Joseph Cowa, sometimes in September 2019, at Shell in the Freetown Judicial District, in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, stole certain vehicle parts which include one radiator, valued seven hundred thousand leones, (Le 700,000) one vehicle starter, valued at three hundred thousand leones (Le 300,000), four vehicle wheels, valued at one million, five hundred thousand leones each (Le 1,500,000) and certain valuable parts of the vehicle, all valued at nine million, two hundred and fifty thousand leones (Le 9,250,000), which are properties of the complainant, Victoria Kamara.
The accused was yet unrepresented; bail was denied the accused and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 1st June, 2020.