By Elizabeth Kamara
Six individuals, including 33-year-old Mohamed Kamara, Zainab Turay, Zakaria Sankoh, and Abdul Samuel Kamara, appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown.
They face a two-count charge of conspiracy to commit a felony and shop breaking and larceny, contrary to Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
Court documents revealed that on Monday, October 14, 2024, at Koroma Lane, Calaba Town, the accused persons allegedly conspired with unknown individuals to break into the shop of Fatmata Kamara.
The items reportedly stolen include four large jars of mayonnaise, 20 bottles of cooking oil, five cartons of Onga Maggi, 24 cartons of sweet milk, and other assorted goods, with a total value of NLe 41,610, property of Fatmata Kamara.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken.
Inspector Sellu T.A.P led the prosecution’s first witness, Albert Sorie Kamara, an assistant secretary at the Ministry of Education, who recognized both the complainant and the accused persons.
Kamara testified that on October 14, 2024, at around 8:00 a.m., while at home, his mother woke him up to sell rice to a customer. Upon opening the shop, he discovered it had been ransacked, with the back window damaged, suggesting it was used as an entry point. Inside the shop, he found a backpack containing provisions. When the complainant questioned who owned the bag, the first accused claimed it.
The prosecution requested a short adjournment to allow the witness to properly prepare his testimony, as he appeared to struggle during cross-examination.
Magistrate Kekura granted the adjournment, rescheduling the matter for February 6, 2025, for further hearing, bail for all accused persons remains in effect.
