By Blessing C. Cole
Three accused persons, Dauda Kamara, Zachariah Swaray Bay and Bai Fullah Kamara alias I.T, have been remanded to the Male Correctional Centre by Magistrate Sahr Kekura presiding at the Ross Road Court No.1 for allegedly stealing property worth over Nle168, 000 at the Sierra Fishing Company, Kissy Dockyard in Freetown.
The accused persons appeared before the court on four counts of conspiracy, store breaking, larceny and receiving stolen goods contrary to law.
It was alleged that the accused persons on Monday 21st August, 2023, at Kissy Dockyard in Freetown, conspired with other unknown persons to break into and entered the Sierra Fishing Company and stole therein two welding machines, zummertible pump, welding cable, electrical cable and other valuables totalling to one hundred and sixty-eight thousand, eight hundred and five Leones (NLe168, 805) belonging to Sierra Leone Fishing Company.
It was also alleged that, the second accused on the same date at Government Boatyard Compound, Kissy Dockyard, received a welding machine valued forty-four thousand Leones, (NLe44,000) belonging to the said fishing company.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura, first prosecution witness, Ahmed Al-Saleh, a Syrian National, who doubles as the Chief Security Officer working for Sierra Fishing Company, recognised the accused and recalled on the date in question.
The witness told the court that on the date in question, he received a phone call from the second accused, instructing him to go to the crime scene.
He said upon receipt of the information, he left for the crime scene and when he arrived there, the second accused told him that the first accused wanted to explain something to him.
He stated that the second accused gave him information about the first accused and that upon receipt of the information, they conducted a search behind the store.
During the search, he said he discovered that the window guard was damaged and removed, adding that he instructed the first accused to hand over his mobile phone to him, but he refused and jumped into the sea.
The witness said he later reported the matter to the top management level at Sierra Fishing Company, being that the store keeper, whose name was not mentioned, was not around by then.
At that stage the police prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura, sought for adjournment for him to have proper conference with his witness, which was granted by Magistrate Kekura.
Before the adjourned date, defence counsel A.B. Kamara renewed and adopted his previous application for bail on behalf of the first accused.
However, Magistrate Kekura denied the first and second accused persons bail and remanded them at the Male Correctional Centre, whilst bail for the third accused continues.
The matter was adjourned to 27th September 2023 further hearing.
