By Elizabeth Kamara
Two men, Alimamy Sinneh, a businessman, and Alimamy Gbamkey, also known as “White Boy,” have been arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown on charges of conspiracy and robbery with aggravation.
The charges are in violation of Section 23(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916, as amended by Act No. 16 of 1971.
According to the prosecution, on Sunday, February 23, 2025, at the Gulf Club, Lumley Beach Road, Freetown, the accused conspired with unknown persons to commit robbery with aggravation.
On the same date and location, while armed with a cutlass, they allegedly robbed Blessing Cole of an iPhone 11 Pro Max, valued at 15,000 New Leones.
The prosecution further alleged that the accused used personal violence against the victim immediately before or after the robbery.
When the charges were read, the accused persons did not enter a plea.
Police Prosecutor Inspector M.K. Taylor, assisted by State Counsel Jouan Bull Esq., led the first prosecution witness, Blessing A.V. Cole, a student at Fourah Bay College.
In her testimony, Cole stated that on the night of February 23, 2025, at around 7:30 PM, she and her friends were leaving the Sports Zone after playing basketball. As they walked toward Lumley to find transportation home, they passed by Sunny Side Beach Bar and Restaurant, where an unknown man advised them to hold onto their phones tightly.
Cole recounted that while she was answering a phone call, someone suddenly snatched her phone from behind. She reacted immediately, grabbing the accused by his clothing as he attempted to flee. During the struggle, the phone fell to the ground, and another man picked it up and ran away.
She further testified that while grappling with the accused, he pulled a cutlass from his back and attempted to strike her. She managed to grab hold of the cutlass, but in the struggle, the accused bit her. A friend intervened to assist her, but the accused bit her friend multiple times before fleeing into the sea.
Realizing he could not swim, Cole pleaded with three men to rescue him. Shortly afterward, police officers arrived at the scene, arrested the accused, and took him to the Gulf Club Police Post before transferring him to the Aberdeen Police Station.
There, Cole filed a formal report and was issued a medical report, which was later submitted as evidence in court.
Magistrate Kekura denied bail and remanded both accused persons at the Male Correctional Center in Freetown. The case was adjourned to April 2, 2025.
