By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, Sierra Leone – On January 30, 2025, Police Officer Dolly Faith Johnson testified before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 against Emma Morlia Sesay, who is accused of stealing a one-week, five-day-old baby boy.
The accused, Emma Morlia Sesay, was charged with one count of child stealing, contrary to Section 56 of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861. According to court documents, Sesay allegedly took the baby, Mustapha Sesay, from his parents without their consent.
The first prosecution witness, Police Officer Dolly Faith Johnson, led in evidence by Prosecutor Sergeant 8811 Florence M. Wilson, stated that she is an investigator attached to the Family Support Unit, Central Division. Johnson recognized both the complainant, Martha Sesay, and the accused. She recalled receiving a report from the complainant on November 13, 2024, about her missing child.
Johnson testified that she entered the report into their court file and instructed the complainant to search for the child within 24 hours, providing her contact information for updates. On November 14, 2024, around noon, Johnson received a call from Inspector Josephine Joseph at Rogbane, Makeni Police Station, informing her that the accused had been arrested with the child. Later that day, Police Constable 12113 Fofanah arrived at the station with the accused, the child, and the complainant.
Johnson obtained a statement from the accused, in which she admitted to the allegations. The statement was produced and tendered in court as Exhibit A1-8.
On January 20, 2025, Johnson charged the accused with the offence of child stealing, and the charged statement was tendered as Exhibit B1-2.
Magistrate Bangura denied bail to the accused, citing the gravity of the allegation. The matter comes up again for further hearing on February 5, 2025,