By Mohamed Jalloh
Magistrate Santige Bangura of Freetown Court No. 1 has granted bail to 17 year old Francis Kenner, an SSS 1 pupil of the School of Excellence in Waterloo for allegations of shop breaking and larceny.
The complainant in the matter, according to the prosecution, is Ravi Ballani, owner of PC and Sons Wellington, while the accused, Francis Kenner, was a labourer at the complainant shop.
Prosecution Witness One, Police Sergeant Francis Pearce Kamara, led in evidence by ASP I.S. Mansaray, told the court that on the 1st May 20018 he was accompanied by the complainant to arrest the accused at Bassah Town, Waterloo, where the allegations were read to him.
The witness further stated that the accused had confessed of stealing Le12 million which he claimed to have given to his uncle to buy business items while the remaining amount is in the hands of the other two suspects who are on the run.
The Police Sergeant furthered the court that the business items bought by the uncle, which are now exhibits in the matter, are presently at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters for safe custody.
The lawyer for the accused teenager, Teddy Koroma Esq., stated, in his cross examination, that the police was not in possession of an arrest warrant when he arrested the accused.
Lawyer Koroma furthered that there is no documentary proof of statement obtained from the accused, as, according to him, the Police are prosecuting based on hearsay which, according to him, is inadmissible in the court of law.
Lawyer Koroma made an application to the Magistrate for bail to be granted to the accused, citing that the suspect is a school going pupil currently on exams. He noted that his future is at stake if the Magistrate does not grant him bail.
Magistrate Santigie Bangura admonished the accused to stay out of trouble before granting him a bail of Le70 million plus two sureties resident in the greater Freetown area. The matter was adjourned to the 5th June 2018.