Hon. Justice Abdul Rahman Mansaray has sentenced George Nangbeh, a man found guilty of receiving items burgled by Musa Lansana and Joseph Saidu alias Gadafi, to 36 months in prison. He also sent both Lansana and Saidu to the Correctional centre in Kenema for a jail term of 84 months each. Police charged Nangbeh for receiving stolen goods contrary to Sec. 33(1) of the Larceny Act 1916, and both Musa Lansana and Joseph Saidu for Burglary and Larceny Contrary to Sec. 25(1) and Sec. 13 (a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
Police claimed that Musa Lansana and Joseph Saidu on November 29, 2017, in Kenema, conspired with other persons unknown to commit burglary and larceny.
They also claimed that on the same date at the same place, the 2nd and 3rd Accused persons (Musa Lansana and Joseph Saidu) at night, broke and entered the dwelling house of one Ajale Pyne and stole 25 gallon containers of palm oil valued at Le 2,000,000, seven assorted cooking pots valued at Le 1,200,000, and two aluminum mortars valued at Le 70,000, all to the total value of Le 3,270,000, property of Ajale Pyne.
Police had initially claimed that George Nangbeh, the 1st Accused, and Mariama Fallah, the 4th Accused, on November 29, 2017 at Kenema, received 8 five-gallon containers belonging Ajale Pyne knowing that they had been stolen.
All the four Accused persons pleaded not quality but later, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Accused changed their plea to guilty on September 17, 2019.
In his ruling, Justice Mansaray sent the 1st Accused to Jail for 36 months and the 2nd and 3rd Accused persons 36 months on the first count and 48 months on the second. The duration of their sentences are been calculated from January 1, 2018, whilst the 4th Accused, Mariama was discharged.
The matters were persecuted by Augustine Sheku, State Council and customary law officer in the Eastern Region, and the accused persons were represented by Patrick Kamara, Defense Counsel of Legal Aid Board for Kenema, Kono and Kailahun districts.
By Mohamed Mansaray in Kenema
23/07/2020. ISSUE NO: 7872