By Alimatu Jalloh
One Alhaji Conteh aka Cart has been remanded at the Male Correctional Center on Pademba Road by Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No. 1 for the offences of conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to law, and larceny contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The accused was arrested on April 12, 2023, at Shell New Road in Freetown.
It is alleged by the police that the accused, on March 19, 2023 at Texaco Lorry Park, Leoco Filling Station in Freetown, conspired with unknown persons to commit larceny.
According to the chargesheet, the accused Alhaji Conteh , on the same date and place in Freetown, stole from a Mercedes Benz with registration number ATM 959 a black backpack contained a cash of NLe3,000, and a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus valued at four thousand leones (Nle4,000), belonging to one Dr. Murtala Mohamed Antator.
Led in evidence by Police Constable 19576 Sesay I. the prosecution witness Mohamed Smart told the court that he recognised the complainant and the accused as a cart pusher while recalling Sunday, March 19, 2023.
He said on that day, he was at the said place when the complainant parked his vehicle with registration number ATM 959 at Texaco Lorry Park, adding that the accused suddenly arrived at scene with a wet cloth and started whipping the complainant’s vehicle, even though he (complainant) told him not to do so.
He said the complainant was locking his vehicle, the accused raised nub so that the vehicle cannot locked. He said the complainant thought that he had locked the vehicle and he went to a nearby restaurant to buy food.
‘I saw the accused quietly opening the vehicle and carted away the missing bag,” the witness said.
PW 2 said when the complainant returned and opened his vehicle, he complained that someone had stolen from his vehicle. He said it was based on the fact that he told him that he knew the one he carted away his bag. The witness said PW 1 asked and promised him with money if he helped him to get the accused.
On the following day, he said the complainant and military personnel, whose name was not mentioned, apprehended the accused at Shell New Road while whipping President Bio’s billboard. The accused was subsequently conveyed to Texaco Police Post where he made a statement.
During cross-examination, the accused asked the witness whether he was at the crime of scene when the alleged incident occurred. The witness responded in the affirmative.
He asked the witness if he knew the color of the purported bag.
In response, he said the bag was black in colour.
The accused asked the witness if he could tell the court on which day he was arrested.
Responding, he said he was arrested at Shell New Road while he was whipping President Bio’s billboard.
After cross-examination, the accused was again refused bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Center on Pademba Road in Freetown while the matter was adjourned to May 18, 2023 for further hearing.