Mohamed Bangura and Alpha George were both sent into remand after they appeared before Magistrate Mark Ngegba at the Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1 on Pademba Road in Freetown on alleged theft 40 pairs of slippers valued at over Le 4,000,000, property of Kadiatu Sesay.
Police alleged that the accused persons on December 16, 2020, break and entered into the dwelling place of Mariama Bangura and with intent to steal corrugated zinc roofing sheets valued at Le 250,000.
Police further alleged that Mohamed Kamara on the same day break and entered the dwelling place of same victim and stole forty pairs of slippers valued at Le 4,000,000 in addition to another fifteen pairs of slippers valued at Le150,000.
Police also alleged that on the same date and place, Alpha George received part of the stolen goods valued at over Le 4,000,000 property of Kadiatu Sesay.
Consequently, both accused were charged with House Breaking and Larceny contrary to Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act 1916, receiving stolen goods contrary to Section 33 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
Prosecution witness, Kadiatu Sesay, recognized both accused persons whom she alleged stole from her.
She said she had bought forty pairs of slippers and another 15 pairs of female sleepers, amounting to a total of Le 4, 150,000. “I packed the slippers inside my sister’s room, Mariama Bangura, and went to bed,” she said.
She said that the following morning, her sister informed her that thieves had stolen her goods. He said that he immediately went to the house where she observed first hand that the goods had indeed been stolen. “Without delay, I reported the matter to the police station. While I was on my way to the police station, my daughter, Abie Nannah called to say the goods had been recovered from the second accused who had given the slippers to some other person to sell at a cost of thirty thousand each,” she explained. She later discovered that it was the first accused who stole the slippers.
The first accused had no legal representation, and he denied the allegation and stated that the complainant had lied against him.
Magistrate Mark Ngegba sent both accused persons into remand at the Male Correctional Facility on Pademba Road in Freetown, and he adjourned the matter to January 21, 2021.
By Isabella Cassell
14/01/2021. ISSUE NO:7980