By Janet Sesay
The Manager of Metro Hotel at Wilkinson Road, Mohamed Hedazi, has been arraigned before Magistrate Santige Bangura of Court No.1 for allegedlystealing forty seven thousand United State Dollars ($47,000) from an American citizen, Yong Choi.
The accused was in court on two count charges of conspiracy with intent to commit larceny and burglary and larceny, contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The prosecution alleged that, on Saturday 28 July 2018, at Metro Hotel, Wilkinson Road, the accused stole forty seven thousand United States dollars(US$ 47,000) from complainant.
Explaining his ordeal after the charges have been read, the complainant said he recognized the accused in the dock and could recall Saturday 28th July, 2018,when he went out to the beach and came back around 2am and met his door broken with a pickaxe and money amounting to forty seven thousand United States Dollars ($47,000) was missing.
He told the court that the act was perpetrated by one of his personal security guards,named Augustine.
He explained that when he came from the US, he used to stay in another hotel but this time he was encouraged by the accused to stay in his own Hotel Metro.
He told the court that the accused had assured him of his safety and that of his property at all times.
The complainant further told the court thatthe accused had told him of having a lot of CCTV cameras in the hotel,noting that he will be safe while staying in the hotel.
He also told the court that the accused enquired from him whether he has any valuable items in his bag and he answered in the affirmative.
He continued that, after the incident, the security was nowhere to be seen and when he questioned the accused, he told me that “he could not ascertain his whereabouts”.
Upon examining the footage with the accused, the complainant told the court that he discovered that the CCTV cameras had no footage and to his greatest surprise the cameras also did not have any drive.
The complainant further explained that he reported the matter to the Police; they came into the hotel and took photographs. The police, he told the court, later discovered the pickaxe.
During cross examination by Defense Counsel, Abdul Karim Koroma, the witness said he checked in on 18th July 2018 after booking with the hotel.com on line and that the incident occurred between the 27 and 28 July 2018.
He said when he checked in at the hotel, the hotel owner did not offer him any safe to keep his personal effects and that he was not in the hotel when the incident took place.
The Defense Counsel made bail application on behalf of the accused who, he stated, is a Sierra Leonean businessman and the owner of a hotel.Heassured the court that the accused had reliable sureties to stand on his behalf.
Having heard both arguments from the defense and the prosecution,the Magistrate granted the accused two hundred million Leones bail and two sureties in like sum.He instructed that sureties should be property owners and bail should be approved by the Deputy Master and Registrar.
The matter was adjourned to the 16th August 2018.