By Hassanatu I. Conteh
Forty-one years old Munda Fortune, a driver, thirty-five years old Osman Kamara, a driver, thirty-two years old Abu Bakarr Bangura, a petty trader and twenty-nine years old Godwin Thomas, a petty trader made another appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 in Freetown on three count charges to wit, larceny contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916, accessory after the fact contrary to Section 35 of the Larceny Act 1916 and receiving stolen goods contrary to Section 33 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, on Wednesday, 24th July 2024, at Lumley in the Western Area of Freetown did steal from vehicle with registration number ESQ 730 one black backpack bag containing one grey apple lap top, a Samsung galaxy S9 plus mobile phone and other assorted items equivalent to the total value of One Hundred and Sixty-six Thousand and Sixty-eight Leones (NLe 166,068) and other properties of value of Cyrus Lusenie.
Count two further states that on the same date and place, the 2nd and 3rd accused persons, well knowing that Munda Fortune has stolen one grey apple lap top computer valued at Forty-two Thousand and Eighty-four Leones (42,084), thereafter received comforted, maintained and assisted the said Munda Fortune to sell same to Godwin Thomas, Alias Jay Nice, property of Cyrus Lusenie.
Count three states that on the same date and place, the 3rd accused person did receive one grey apple lap top valued at Forty-two Thousand and Eighty -Four Leones (42,084), property of Cyrus Lusenie, knowing same to have been stolen.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty.
Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sorie Conteh, led Prosecution Witness No.2, Corporal 12038 Musa Shansu Sesay, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at the Lumley Division.
He testified that on the 24th July 2024, he was on duty at his office when a case of larceny was assigned to him for investigation. He said that aided by Inspector S. Mansaray, he obtained cautionary statement from the complainant on the 16th August, 2024 in Krio and was recorded in English Language. He said that at the conclusion of the statement taking, it was read over and explained to the accused person in Krio Language which he admitted it to be true and correct by afflicting his right hand thumbprint to the statement witnessed by Inspector Sonfian Mansaray and that he also signed the statement as the recorder. The said statement was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records and was marked as Exhibit A1-7.
He went on that on 8th August 2024; himself together with the said Investigator obtained a voluntary cautionary statement from the second accused person with the same procedure as in the statement of the first accused person. The statement of the second accused was also produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records, marked as Exhibit B1-6.
He went further that on 30th July, 2024, he, together with the said Investigator obtained voluntary cautionary statement from the third accused person, which was also produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as Exhibit C1-7, and that on the 12th August 2024, they obtained further statement from the third accused using the same procedure and it was produced and tendered in court to form part of the court records marked as Exhibit D1-6.
He said on the 10th August, 2024 he obtained a voluntary cautionary statement from the fourth accused person using the same procedure as in the first, second and third accused persons; he produced and tendered the statement of the fourth accused person and was marked as Exhibit E1-6.
He testified that on 13th August 2024, a team of police officers conducted a search warrant at the house of the fourth accused person and one grey apple lap top, which the complainant identified to be his stolen computer was found and according to him, they treated the computer as an exhibit and was handed to the Exhibit Clerk and marked as Exhibit F and that on the same date they obtained further voluntary cautionary statement from the fourth accused person using the same procedure as in the first, second, and third accused persons.
He testified that on 26th August 2024, he finally charged the accused persons for the offences they are standing trial for, and presented the charge sheets for all the accused persons and was tendered in court to form part of the court records.
The witness was cross examined by the accused persons.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura refused bail and sent the accused persons to the Male Correctional facility in Freetown while the matter was adjourned to 14th November 2024.