By Mohamed J. Kargbo
Ibrahim Sorie Bangura, a 32-year-old laborer, has been remanded to the Male Correctional Center on Pademba Road, Freetown, after making his first court appearance for alleged robbery with aggravation and other related offenses.
Bangura appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Court No. 1, facing four charges: conspiracy to commit a felony, robbery with aggravation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and possession of an offensive weapon.
According to the charge sheet, on December 17, 2024, at Sani Abacha Street in Freetown, Bangura, armed with a cutlass and scissors, allegedly robbed Isatu Sesay of a green Cross bag containing a Techno Camon 16 mobile phone and cash, with a total value of 13,700 Leones.
He is also accused of assaulting Sesay during the incident, causing her bodily harm, and being found in possession of the aforementioned weapons.
The robbery charge falls under Section 23(1)(a) of the Larceny Act of 1916, as amended by Section 1 of the Schedule to the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021 (Act No. 6 of 2022). The assault charge is brought under Section 47 of the Offenses Against the Person Act of 1861, while the possession of an offensive weapon is in violation of Section 16(1) of the Public Order Act No. 46 of 1965.
During the proceedings, Bangura was unrepresented, and no plea was taken after the charges were read to him by the court registrar.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mansaray, representing the prosecution, requested an adjournment due to the absence of the complainant, who was expected to testify.
Magistrate Kekura denied bail to the accused and adjourned the matter to January 15, 2025, for further hearing.
