By Musa Paul Feika
Police prosecution witness, Ezekiel Prince Tamba, has testified before Magistrate Alhaji Suliaman Koroma of Magistrate Court No. 1, in the ongoing larceny matter involving Ibrahim Gbewan, who is charged with the offence of larceny dwelling, an offence which is contrary to law.
In his testimony, the witness said he recognized the accused as a houseboy to his mother and could recall Sunday 5th July 2020. According to him, on that fateful night, himself and the accused were in their bedroom. He said, after a few hours, he slept off and left the accused playing with his mobile phone. He said he did not wake up till 05:00 am.
The witness said, after he woke up, the accused was nowhere to be found, adding that he went in search of the accused within the premises. But, according to him, the accused was nowhere to be seen. He added that while he was searching for him, he noticed that the manhole, leading to his mother’s bedroom, was widely opened and there were footprints on it.
The witness detailed the court that he also discovered certain items, which include a computer laptop, valued two million five hundred thousand leones (Le2,500,000), men trousers and cash of one thousand United States dollars ($1000), which is equivalent to eleven million leones, and other valuable properties.
“They have all been carted away,” he said loudly to the court.
The witness said he called his mother through his cell phone and explained exactly what transpired between the accused and him, noting that, on the following day, his mother left Rutile for Freetown. He said, upon her arrival, they reported the matter at Calaba Town Police Division in the east of Freetown.
The witness concluded his testimony, informing that he got information that the accused was in Tongo Fields in Kenema District, where he was arrested and transferred to the Calaba Town Police Division in Freetown.
“The accused was ultimately charged to court,” he told the court.
The police charge sheet states that Ibrahim Gbenwan, on Sunday 5th July 2020 at Kola Tree in Freetown, entered into the dwelling house of the complainant, Emma Victoria Turay, and stole therein some valuable properties worth million of leones.
The accused was denied bail and sent to the Male Correctional Centre, Pademba Road in Freetown and the matter was adjourned to 12th August, 2020.