By Janet A Sesay
Randa Skykaide made her first appearance before Justice Ivan Sesay of the Freetown High Court and was granted stiff bail of Le5Bn.
The accused is charged with two counts of larceny dwelling house contrary to section 13 (a) of the Larceny Act of 1916 and larceny servant.
The indictment indicated that the accused on a date between 25th August and 7th September 2018 at 30 Bintumani Drive, Aberdeen in Freetown stole the sum of US$500,000 equivalent to Le400M, property of Alie Abess.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the offence and state prosecutor, Adrian Fisher made an application to the court to seek instruction from the Director of Public Prosecution that the matter be tried by a Judge alone and not by Judge and Jury.
He made the application pursuant to section 144(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965 as repealed and replaced by section 3 of the Criminal Procedure amendment Act no 11 of 1981.
The said application was granted by the judge.
Defence counsel, Momoh Fofanah made bail application on behalf of the accused to which the prosecutor made no objection.
Justice Ivan Sesay granted the accused bail in the aforementioned sum and two sureties in like sum.
The accused, under the bail condition, was ordered to produce a tittle deed valued Le2.5Bn and surety must also produce valuation certificate of the tittle deed.
He must also produce the original conveyance of the said property and both accused and surety must produce driver’s license, voter identification cards among others.
The bail must be approved by the master and registrar of the High Court.
The matter adjourned to 15th July.