By Elizabeth Kamara
Thirty-five-year-old Munda Fortune appeared for the first time before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 in Freetown, facing charges of larceny under Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to court documents, on July 24, 2024, Fortune allegedly stole items from a vehicle with registration number ESQ 730, belonging to lawyer Cyrus Lusenie, at Freetown Road, Lumley.
The stolen items reportedly included a black backpack valued at NLE500, a grey Apple laptop valued at NLE42,084, a Samsung Galaxy S9 phone valued at NLE22,211, four Sierra Leonean passports valued at NLE9,200, a national ID card valued at NLE145, a driver’s license valued at NLE800, cash equivalent to $3,000 (NLE71,100), and NLE6,000 in cash, totaling an estimated value of NLE166,068.
Inspector Sorie Conteh led the prosecution, calling Lusenie as the first witness. Lusenie testified that he parked and locked his car before entering a shop to buy provisions, but upon returning, he discovered the vehicle’s door unlocked and his bag missing. He immediately reported the incident to the Lumley Police Station, and following an investigation, the police arrested the accused.
During the proceedings, defense counsel C. Tamba requested bail, arguing that Fortune is a family man with no prior criminal record and would not flee if released. However, Magistrate Bangura denied the bail application in the interest of justice and ordered Fortune to be remanded at the Male Correctional Facility.
The case was adjourned to November 5, 2024.
