By Fatima Kpaka
Osman Santigie Kamara, a driver, and two others were yesterday sent to prison by Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No1 for allegedly stealing at the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) in Waterloo.
According to the police, the stolen items, which include dashboards, and other valuables were worth thousands of leones.
The accused Osman Santigie Kamara, Alie Koroma and Farah Conteh were arraigned before the court on ten counts of conspiracy and other related offences contrary to law.
Police records show that the accused, on Friday, September 22, 2023, at the above-mentioned place in Waterloo conspired with unknown persons to commit larceny.
It was further alleged that the accused persons on the same date and place stole from three vehicles certain property worth one Le136,260 (hundred thirty-six thousand, two hundred and sixty leones).
The police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura told the court he hasn’t held conference with his witness and sought for an adjournment for him to have conference with him.
Responding, defence counsel, A.B. Kamara, representing the first accused, submitted that prosecution ought to have held conference with his witness because the file was made available to him before the matter was mentioned by the court clerk.
In line with lawyer Kamara’s submission, J. Cobba applied for bail on behalf of the accused persons pursuant to section 79 (3) of The Criminal Procedure Act 1965. He said they are presuming innocent until proven otherwise.
He said the accused are employed, assuring that if bail is granted to them they will not pose any flight risk.
He said that they have reliable and credible sureties, adding that the accuse would not interfere with the prosecution witnesses.
Responding, Magistrate Kekura said that since the accused are working for the said institutions there is the likelihood that if they are granted bail they would interfere with prosecution witnesses.
The accused were denied bail and remanded at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to Wednesday, November 1, 2023, for further hearing.