By Janet Sesay
Columbus Tucker an accountant of the Sierratel Mobile Company yesterday testified before Magistrate Marke Ngegba of Pademba Road Court No. 2.
Police had alleged that Brima Joe, Steven Joe and Salifu Mansaray had stolen the sum of thirteen million, five hundred thousand Leones (Le 13,500,000) from the vehicle of Mr. Tucker at Tengbeh Town.
The witness told the court he recognizes the accused and could also recall on the 21st December, 2019 at around 12 a.m while returning home from work when he had stopped his vehicle at the junction closed to his house at Tengbeh Town.
He continued that the accused persons had approached him and disclosed that they have sewing machines for sale.
The witness recounted that, they negotiated the price and agreed on the sum of five hundred thousand Leones (Le 500,000)
The witness continued his testimony that, he had moved to the back of the vehicle with the third accused person to give him the money as negotiated.
According to him after handing over the money to the accused he again went to the front of the car and started smoking.
I was just about to leave the area for my home when I noticed that the back door of my vehicle was opened, the witness continued.
He continued his testimony by recounting that he checked in the vehicle and discovered that the bag containing his money had gone missing and hence he immediately took the accused persons to task but they denied not having knowledge of the incident.
The witness indicated that he had no option but to report the matter to the Congo Cross Police Station leading to the arrest of all the accused persons.
The accused had made confessional statements acknowledging that they had stolen the money.
The accused persons were arraigned before the court on two counts of conspiracy contrary law and larceny contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916.
The particulars of offence indicated that the accused persons on the 21st December, 2019, at Tengbeh town, Freetown conspired together with other persons unknown to commit a felony to wit larceny.
The particulars stated that the accused persons on the same day at the same place stole from vehicle registration number AHL 295 the sum of thirteen million, five hundred thousand Leone (Le 13,500,000) property of Columbus Tucker.
The witness was cross examined by defense counsel Mahmoud Markfoi who made an application for bail on behalf of his clients.
The accused persons were granted bail by the magistrate and the matter was adjourned to the 30th January, 2020.