By Blessing C. Cole
During the September Criminal Session at the Siaka Steven Street High Court in Freetown, twenty-four-year-old Alhaji Musa, a building contractor was on Tuesday 19th September, sentenced to 2 years imprisonment by Justice Alusine Sesay of the Supreme Court for stealing.
The convict was charged with one count indictment of house breaking and larceny contrary to Section 26 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
State prosecutor, A.J.M Bockarie, alleged that the convict on the 10th August 2022 in Freetown, broke into and entered into the dwelling house of Nancy Turay with intent to steal and stole therein the goods or items alleged therein all to the total valued of Nle 20, 15, 00 property of the said complainant.
When the charge was read and explained to the convict by the court registrar, the convict pleaded guilty to the offense.
After he pleaded guilty to the offense, A.J.M Bockarie told the court that the convict was a neighbour to the complainant and on the said date, the convict stole her property worth thousands of Leones.
The complainant was not present in court during the proceedings and the prosecutor said the items were not retrieved from the convict.
Lawyer Cecile Tucker from the Legal Aid Board made a plea of mitigation on behalf of the convict, noting that the convict is a first time offender of the law and that he is a very young man with brighter future ahead of him.
She further said the convict need a second chance to make good use of his life and pleaded with Justice Sesay to temper justice with mercy on the convict, while giving down his sentencing.
He submitted that the convict didn’t waste the court’s time by answering to the offense on his first appearance before the High Court.
Lawyer Tucker continued that the convict has been on remand custody for over one year now.
After making her plea, Justice Sesay asked the convict to say something before he sentence him.
The convict also pleaded with him to temper him justice with mercy, stating that he has regretted his action and learnt his mistakes while on remand custody.
Meanwhile, Justice Sesay advised the convict to make good use of his age because as a young man he should engage in things that will benefit him, but not to engage in things that will destroy his future.
