By Saio Marrah
Justice Unisa Kamara has remanded three accused persons in custody for allegedly robbing one Kadiatu Kai Sesay of her properties with a total value of NLe 7,535 (seven thousand five hundred thirty-five New Leones).
The prosecution says on the 28th of April last year, Moses Sahr Brima, Dennis Browne and Osman Bangura used a machete to break into the dwelling house of the complainant and stole one Techno Air 12 Mobile phone, one Techno Button Mobile Phone and one S.E Android Mobile Phone. The stolen items also included a leather sandal and NLe 135 in cash.
Led in evidence by State Prosecutor, Patrick Lumumba Williams, the first Prosecution witness, Detective Constable Messie Yei Tommy, attached to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigation Department, testified that on the 28th of April last year, she was at the Hastings Police Station when the case was assigned to her. She said she was with other police officers and took some pictures of the scene.
She said she later received a phone call from the complainant who told her that the first accused, Browne, had approached her and confessed knowing the second and third accused persons involved in the robbery.
Constable Tommy told the court that after arresting the first accused and obtaining a statement from him at Kissy Police Station, the first accused also volunteered to lead them to the address of the second accused, saying he knew where the stolen properties were kept.
The witness said based on advice given by the first accused, she requested for personnel reinforcement before heading to the place of the second accused at Texaco Lorry Park in Kissy, Freetown.
The witness said they had to go down the wharf where the first accused identified the second accused upon which he was arrested. The witness said they later searched the home of the second accused and found the complainant’s phones in his possession. According to the prosecution witness the first accused then led them to the place where the phones were sold and in that place they found one Hawanatu who received the stolen properties sitting close to the third accused.
Constable Tommy said the third accused was then identified and arrested along with Hawanatu. She said the complainant identified the second accused as the man who broke and entered the house and stole the items.
On 4th of May 2022, all three accused persons were charged with conspiracy and robbery with aggravation.
During a cross examination of the witness by the second accused, the witness admitted that she had not investigated the second accused for any previous crime throughout her six years of service in the police force.
She also admitted that the complainant had not shown proof of ownership of the phone she obtained from the second accused person and that similar phones are available for sale.
The accused also told the court that during his arrest, he told the witness that he was not on good terms with the first accused but the prosecution witness rejected that.
During cross examination by the third accused the court heard that at the time of the arrest, the third accused said he knew nothing about the robbery even after being identified by the first accused.
The third accused person said he spent the night of the robbery with his wife. Meanwhile the witness admitted that no property of the complainant was found at the residence of the third accused person during the search and that the complainant did not identify him to be among the robbers.
The presiding judge told the accused persons to remain silent and wait for the Legal Aid Board to represent them against the next adjourned date of the 31st of May this year.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (26/05/23)
