The Principal of Government Technical Junior Secondary School, Lolile Denis Johnson has on Wednesday February 3, 2021, testified in a case of theft involving the sum of Le 90, 000,000. His testimony was recorded by Magistrate Isata Sellu-Tucker of Court No.2 on Pademba Road.
After subscribing to the oath to speak the truth, Johnson told the court that her duties as a Principal includes overseeing the day-to-day running of the school, managing its logistics and budgets, and setting learning goals for pupils and teachers based on national curricula.
He told the court that he knows Bai Bangura, the accused in the matter as a security guard in the school, and recalled something which happened on Thursday October 8, 2020.
He continued that on that day she was at his house around 1:30 a.m. when he received information from an unknown person that robbers had broken into her office at the school compound.
He further explained that she then went to the scene, and when he arrived there he met police officers taking snapshots and she observed that her office was not as properly packed as she had left it, and that a safe in there had been broken into.
He further told the court that the accused took away the sum of Le 80,000,000, from the safe, his laptop computer valued at Le 5,000,000, two digital tablets phones valued at Le2, 500,000, and an office printer valued at Le 3,500,000 and other property amounting to a net worth exceeding Le 90,000,000.
He said in his presence, the accused showed him the cloth which they used to cover his eyes.
The Principal said after the alleged incident he went to the Congo Cross Police Station and reported the matter and he later made statements there.
The accused person is currently before the court on two counts of Conspiracy to commit a felony and Office Breaking and Larceny contrary to Section 26 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
Police alleged that the accused person on Thursday October 8, 2020, at the Government Secondary Technical School, Congo Cross in Freetown, conspired with other persons to break into the office and stole the aforementioned items from there.
The police are of the view that on the same date and place, he break and entered into the office of Lolile Denis Johnson and stole therein Le 80, 000,000, a laptop computer valued Le 5, 000,000 two digital tablets phones valued Le 2, 500,000, an office printer valued Le 3, 500,000 and other property all to the total value of Le 96, 900,000 which were in the witness’ possession.
At the end of the hearing, Magistrate Sellu-Tucker ordered that the accused person to be remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown, and she adjourned the matter for Tuesday February 9, 2021.
By Isabella Cassell
05/02/2021. ISSUE NO: 7996