Everest Jones, a labourer, was yesterday before Magistrate Peter Gogra of Pademba Road Court No.6 in Freetown on two counts of larceny and malicious damage.
According to the particulars of offence, the accused on diverse dates in January 2022 at Mac Pharmacy, No.5 Freetown Road, Lumley in Freetown did steal one old Kipo generator battery valued at Le1,500,000, property of Ibrahim Muctar Kamara.
On count two, the accused on the same place and date maliciously damage one Kipo Generator valued at Le25.5 million, four air conditions each cost Le 15 million Leones, property of Ibrahim Muctar Kamara.
On his first appearance he pleaded not guilty on both count charge,
Magistrate Gogra, however, discharged the accused person on count one and sentenced him to 18 months in prison on count two.
In his ruling, Magistrate Gogra said the prosecution led three witnesses. He said, having carefully examined the totality of the evidence before him, he is of the view that the prosecution failed to adduce evidence connecting the accused with the offence charged in count one, larceny.
He said that there is no evidence before him stating that the accused stole a generator battery. According to the magistrate, the prosecution has led sufficient evidence in respect of count two, noting that the evidence before the court shows that the alleged cable was found in the possession of the accused which belonged to the complainant. He said that the evidence also led that there was a CCTV footage in which the accused person was seen destroying the said cable to the air conditioners.
The matter was prosecuted by Inspector Mabel M. Tarawalie.
By Fatima Kpaka