By Abass Jalloh
Morrison Kabba has been arraigned in court for allegedly stealing the sum of Le 89,810,000 (eighty-nine million, eight hundred and ten thousand leones) at the dwelling house of Winnifred Lightfoot Taylor.
Kabba, 25, a student, was before the court for the offence of Larceny in a dwelling House.
The prosecution alleged that Kabba on Tuesday 12th July 2022 at Lion House, Regent Village, Freetown, with intent to steal entered the house of Winnifred Lightfoot Taylor and stole a “Ghana-must-go” bag containing the sum of Le 50,000, 000 (fifty million Leones) and $ 2,800 (two thousand eight hundred Dollars) equivalent to Le 39,760,000 (thirty-nine million, seven hundred and sixty thiusand Leones) with a total value of Le 89,810,000 being property of the complainant, Taylor.
On Monday October 31, the prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Hawa Williams, brought in the second witness, Deputy Police Constable (DPC) 13308 Thomas Abu Bangura, attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Mountain Division, Freetown.
The police officer stated that he recognized the accused person and knew the complainant who was not present in court.
He recalled on the 12th July 2022 he was on duty at the same police station, when the accused was brought in at the police station by the complainant with the help of others from Lion House.
He said on this same day statement was obtained from the complainant and that they visited the scene of crime, took a snapshot with his cellphone Tecno Spark 5 Air because there was no camera. The phone and photos were produced and tendered, noting that the pictures were printed out.
According to the police officer, the accused person told in his statement that the money which was allegedly stolen was in the house before and after his statement.
He said on the 13th July 2022, he and Detective Sub-Inspector Dumbuya A. obtained statement from the accused
The statement was produced and tendered as exhibit C1 - 11.
They conducted a search warrant at the residence of Kabba on the same day, he said. During the search, he said they discovered NLe 78 (seventy-eight Leones), adding that when the accused was asked about the money he said it was given to him by the complainant in which the complainant denied.
After the search, he said he endorsed the document and allowed the accused to affix his signature. It was produced and tendered as exhibit D.
The police officer added that on this same day he made a statement at the police station, following the search warrant. The statement was produced and tendered as exhibit E 1-2.
Under cross-examination by Lawyer Musa Bayraytay, the officer said he investigated the matter together with one Inspector Dumbuya but since the matter was assigned to him he was the lead investigator.
Looking at exhibit A, he was asked whether the accused was in the phone, but he said he did not take the photo of him and also the accused was not on the photos, adding that there was no picture of the “Ghana-must-go”.
The lawyer argued that there was no such amount in the house of the accused, but the witness stated that he could not tell, adding that the accused told them during the investigation that he lives alone.
The matter was adjourned to the 8th November 2022.
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