By Alimatu Jalloh
The factual witness in the ongoing matter of theft at the ECSL, Operation Support Division Officer Elizabeth Luseni, of the Sierra Leone Police has yesterday led evidence before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of the Pademba Road Court No.1.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police S.I. Mansaray the witness recognized all the other accused persons with the exception of the 4th accused whom he said he knew in the court.
She recalled that, on the 12th of September 2023 while on duty at the ECSL Wellington where she was attached, she was on routine patrol when she met the first accused, Mohamed Turay with a white box and when he questioned him about it the accused said that it was one Mr. Villa that had sent him.
The witness furthered that at around 9:00 pm the same night, she met the first accused at the same place pointing his phone light with his head in the window “I then called him to attention and questioned and arrested him and took him to my commander one S.I Kallon.”
The witness said upon the arrest of the first accused the ECSL officials including one Mr.Villa and Director Ensah were informed adding that after having informed them, the said office was opened in their presence.
When the office was opened she said she saw the same blue box the accused had been carrying and she asked Mr.Villa what was in the box and he said there were medicines in there.
“When the cartoons were checked there were empty cartoons and boxes and Mr. Villa said those boxes were all filled with medicines” she testified.
The witness said upon that she then took the accused to the Kaibara Police Station at Wellington where she made a report and statements to the police station on the following day.
After her testimony defense Lawyer M.A. Kamara cross examined the witness during which she agreed that she never saw the accused in the office, but restated that she had seen him at the window.
The witness confirmed not knowing anything about the 2nd, 3rd and 4th accused persons.
The witness furthered that it was when Mr. villa opened the office that he together with others gained access into the said office.
She said when she saw the accused with the box she only questioned him and he described the window which is opened and closed with the use of a lever with two glasses missing.
When she was testifying the witness agreed with the defense counsel in cross-examination that he never saw the accused using his hand to take anything.
At this stage, defense counsel applied for the copies of statement which had been made by the witness at the various police stations to be made available to the defense as well as to the court for further cross examination.
But ASP I. S. Mansaray objected on the grounds that those statements had not formed part of the court records.
Magistrate kekura however upheld the objection made by the prosecution and ordered that the defense continue its cross examination.
No further questions were asked by the defense as he renewed his bail application which was declined by the Magistrate.
It could be recalled that Mohamed Turay a Labourer, Ishmael Sesay a Security guard, Charles F. Yonjai an IT Technician and Sahr Kamanda a Businessman had been charged on three counts; Conspiracy, Store-breaking and Larceny and Receiving Stolen Goods.
According to the particulars of offence on the 12th September 2023 at the ECSL Wellington Branch in the Western Area in Freetown conspired together and with other persons unknown and with intent to steal broke and entered into the store of ECSL office and stole one hundred and forty-two tablets value four million one hundred and ten kenyan Shillings equivalent to millions of Leones properties of the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone ECSL. On the third count the 4th accused person is said to have received eleven ECSL Tablets valued three hundred and eighteen thousand five hundred and thirty-eight Kenya Shillings equivalents to hundreds of thousands Leones from Mohamed Turay knowing same to have been stolen.