By Fatima Kpaka
Professor Emmanuel Femi Gbenga Ajah a lecturer at IMATT College has on Tuesday 16th July 2024 dragged David Kamara, a student and barber before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court no 2 for allegedly stealing his laptop computer worth Le 15,000.
The accused was making his second appearance and was arraigned for the crime of Larceny.
The information recorded on the charge sheet indicates that Bangura stole a black Lenovo laptop computer which belong to Professor Gbenga on Thursday 23rd June, 2024 at Lumley.
Led in evidence by prosecutor Detective Superintendent Sorie Conteh Professor Emmanuel Femi Gbenga Ajah said he is a lecturer at IMATT College.
He recognized the accused and recall on Sunday 23rd June 2024.
He said on that day he was at home sitting in front of his flat working on his black Lenovo laptop computer.
He said at 3:00 pm he saw the accused entering the compound to fetch water for his neighbor, a nurse by the name of Fatmata, adding that the door of his neighbor is at the right opposite of his.
He said at the time he was fatigue and feeling a bit dizzy, and he went inside his house to take bitter cola to chew, but when he re-emerged he did not see his laptop and the accused.
He added that because he had on an underwear he was unable to chase after him , and so he raised an alarm which prompted everyone the entire compound to be on guard.
He said he went to the Lumley police station and made a report.
Witness Ajah furthered that his neighbor alerted the mother of the accused and he was arrested at Helena in the eastern part of Freetown, and he went to the place where the accused was arrested.
Professor Gbenga furthered that after the accused had been arrested, he told him that he had given the laptop to someone called Alusine for safe keeping.
Professor Gbenga added that they took the accused to the Lumley police station where statements were obtained from him, and subsequently to different places used for the selling an consumption of the deadly kush drugs to find the said Alusine, but to no avail.
During cross examination of the complainant by defense Counsel Gidwani, he said it was by 3:00 pm the accused came to their compound to fetch water for his neighbor.
He said the time he spent inside his house to take bitter cola is between 3 to 5 minutes.
He said when he came outside the house, he noticed that both the accused and the laptop were missing.
Defense Counsel Gidwani made an application for bail on behalf of the accused stating that he had reliable sureties to stand on his behalf, added to his assurance that the accused would not interfere with prosecution witnesses.
He made his application pursuant to section 79(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act No 32 of 1965.
The accused was granted bail by Magistrate Bangura on the grounds that the prosecutor did not file an affidavit opposing to bail.
The matter was adjourned to Monday 5 August, 2024 for continuation.