By Mohamed Foday Conteh
Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Pademba Road Court No.2 has granted bail to two accused persons and at the same time sent four others on remand for alleged theft of electricity supplied by the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) service.
The six accused persons, Mabinty Kamara, Aminata Turay, Sulaiman Alhaji Barrie, Thomas Hilary, Mohamed Marrah and Hassan Kamara are standing trial on two count charges which include conspiracy contrary to law and dishonestly abstracting electricity supply contrary to section 68 of the National Electricity Act No. 16 of 2011.
Between the 26th and 27th June 2021 they allegedly conspired with other unknown persons to commit a felony. All accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges against them
They are all residents of Makeni, northern Sierra Leone where the alleged crime was committed.
Magistrate Ngegba had initially refused bail to all accused persons in their first appearance in court on the 8th July 2021 when the defence pleaded for bail since the prosecutor had not presented a witness to testify on the said date.
Mohamed Barrie, a Police detective attached to the EDSA Syndicate, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters in Freetown, was led in evidence by the State Prosecutor ASP Hawa Bah, when the matter came up again on Tuesday 13th July 2021. He told the court that he was in custody of the file that was transferred to him by Mena Police Station in Makeni where the matter was initially placed for investigation and said during the process of his investigation, he received voluntary caution statements from the accused persons. He presented the statements in court as exhibits.
The detective said he drew a charge statement for all accused persons in the dock on the 1st July 2021 together with his colleagues Police Constable 18591 Noah H, and detective Police Constable 8444 Kallon Sulaiman.
Barrie told the court that he has been a detective for 5 years but however, admitted that it was not within his knowledge that the accused persons had been in custody for more than a week before they were charged. He said although he was not an electrician but was competent enough to charge the accused with the necessary provisions.
Barrie also confirmed that he did not conduct any independent investigation with regards the matter.
Defence counsel for accused persons, Abdul Sheriff and colleagues pleaded for bail for all accused persons. Magistrate Ngegba granted bail to Mabinty Kamara an aged woman, and Aminata Turay, a suckling mother.
The matter was adjourned to the 20th July 2021 with 4 accused persons on remand at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre.
Copyright © Politico Online (14/07/21)
