By Alimatu Jalloh
Augustine Fasuluku and Moses Musa, two accused persons were on Monday 10th July 2023 docked before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No.1 in Freetown for the offence of Housebreaking and Larceny and for Receiving Stolen goods respectively.
The accused persons were apprehended on 27th June 2023 by Detective Sergeant 9685 Sesay M. and arraigned before the court for the offences of housebreaking and larceny contrary to section 26(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916 and receiving stolen goods contrary to law.
The police are claiming that on Thursday 20th June 2023 at Salieful Kondeh Drive Hastings Freetown, Augustine Fasuluku broke into Mathew B. Smith’s house and stole US$ 6,000 equivalent to NLe140,000 and also other valuables worth approximately NLe250,000.
The charge sheet furthered that Moses Musa, on the same date and place in Freetown, received a stabilizer, valued at NLe1,200 belonging to Mathew B. Smith.
The police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Osman M. Bangura led (PW)1, Mathew B. Smith in evidence during which he told the court that he recognized the accused in respect of the matter and recalled that on Tuesday 20th June 2023.
The witness continued that on the day in question, he was at Foamex Garage Calaba Town in Freetown, when he got a phone call from Mr. Abdul, who gave information about an incident which occurred in his house.
Upon the receipt of the information he said he left for home, disclosing that upon his arrival he saw his daughter, Alice , crying bitterly and she also gave him information about the accused.
Smith further said that he observed that the ceiling in his veranda and parlour was cut, adding that when he proceeded into his bedroom, he discovered that his bedroom had been ransacked and money in his wardrobe was missing.
He added that he got another call from Mr. Abdul informing him that they had arrested the first accused, adding that he then immediately left for Hastings Police Station and upon his arrival, observed that the first accused was wearing his black slippers which he identified to be his.
Smith said when the police continued searching the first accused in his presence, he saw his wristwatch, Bluetooth, wedding ring, his wife’s bracelet and electrical iron amongst others.
“In my presence, when the first accused was interrogated by the police in respect of the allegation, he confessed to have stolen the items, but denied stealing the money,” he told the court.
He said that the first accused and the police officer then left for Hastings Junction and upon their arrival, they saw the stolen stabilizer, which he then identified to be his.
Smith also disclosed that the second accused Moses Musa confessed to them that the first accused had sold the said stabilizer to him at a cost of NLe 80, adding that the second accused was invited to the police station for questioning. He said that the matter was transferred to the Kissy Police Division for further investigations where he also made a statement.
He furthered that the police visited the crime scene and took snapshots which had been developed into pictures.
At this juncture Magistrate Kekura refused to admit Augustine Fasuluku, the first accused to bail and remanded him at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown; but he admitted the second accused to bail in the sum of NLe100,000, with surety in like sum.
The Magistrate Adjourned the matter to the 26th of July 2023 for further hearing. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura is prosecuting the matter.