By Janet A. Sesay
Isha Sesay, a banker working at the Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Aberdeen Road, yesterday made her first appearance before Magistrate Marke Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.2.
She is alleged, by the complainant, to have set fire on one Toyota Land Cruiser, valued at five hundred million Leones (Le500M).
The accused is answering to one count of malicious damage, which is contrary to section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act of 1861.
The charge sheet indicates that the accused, on Sunday 4th July 2021 at Lumley Road in Freetown, set fire on one Toyota Vehicle with registration number MOS 555, which is valued at fifty thousand United States dollars, equivalent of five hundred million Leones. The property belongs to Moses Tommy.
In his evidence, Moses Tommy recognised the accused as his neighbour living in the same compound. But the accused lives upstairs with her children, whiles he (Moses Tommy) lives downstairs with his wife.
The witness also recalled 4th July, 2021. He said, on that day, he was inside his house when he heard a loud sound, sort of an explosion. According to him, he quickly rushed outside and saw his vehicle in flames.
When the accused saw him, she quickly ran outside the compound with her children and went inside her vehicle and drove off to an unknown place.
He said some neighbours and other people came to his aid. They tried to quench the fire by sending water on the burning vehicle.
The witness said, after they have put off the fire, he went to the Lumley Police Station and made a report. Police officers went to the scene and took photos of the burnt vehicle. After which he made a statement at the police station.
He tendered the documents of the vehicle and its burnt photos to the court for identification.
During cross examination by defence counsel, Africanus Sesay, the witness said the accused set fire on the vehicle, but he did not know which place she went to.
He said he registered the vehicle in 2019 and told the court about a fight between the accused and his wife, which matter was still at the same Lumley Police Station.
Lawyer Africanus made an application for bail on behalf of the accused, informing the court that she is a lactating mother working in one of the leading banks in Sierra Leone.
He made this application pursuant to section 79(2)(3) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1965.
The prosecutor, Musa Mewa, opposed the granting of bail to the accused, but Magistrate Ngegba granted the accused bail in the sum of three hundred million Leones and one surety in like sum. The surety should be an employee with two years experience and should be resident in Freetown. The bail should be approved by the Deputy Acting Registrar.
The matter comes up again on 29th July 2021.