By Mohamed Foday Conteh
Justice Alusine Sesay on the 18th May, 2021 sentenced Joseph Maco Bangura and Andrew Jabbati Panda to 3 and 2 years imprisonment respectively in two separate cases of larceny and robbery at the Freetown High court.
Bangura, 25, was accused of stealing one Tecno Spark 5 mobile phone valued at 1,500,000 Leones on the 20th December, 2020. The matter was brought to high court after a committal warrant in the Magistrate Court. He wasted no time in pleading guilty to the charge on the first day of his trial.
Justice Sesay in passing sentence for larceny and robbery also stated that the 5 months already spent on remand at the Pademba road Correctional Centre will have to be deducted from his 3 years custodial sentence.
Similarly, Andrew Jabbati Panda, 22, was accused of stealing a Tecno mobile phone belonging to one Jamal Sesay. The incident reportedly occurred at PZ area in Central Freetown on the 11th February, 2021.
On his first appearance in front of Justice Sesay on the 17th May, 2021, the accused was shabbily dressed and continually stared around the courtroom. The Judge noticed his appearance and scolded the prison officers for allowing the accused in court dressed in such a way that he said was a violation of his right. He cautioned them against ill-treatment of individuals standing trial or even convicts as that would be considered a violation of their human rights.
The following day Panda appeared relatively well dressed and went on to plead guilty acknowledging that he had sinned against God and humanity. Panda was jailed after Judge Sesay advised him to better his ways when he would have finished serving his sentence.
In the same court John Kamara, an 18 year old was sentenced to 4 years in prison for larceny at a dwelling house. The youngster was accused of breaking into the home of one Fanta Sillah in June 2020 and stealing $800 equivalent to Le8, 160,000 at the time.
Judge Sesay ordered that the items stolen be returned to the victim, Fanta Sillah.
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