By Alimatu Kargbo
Three accused persons, 22-year-old Sheku Marrah, a welder; 26-year-old Rugiatu Bah, a petty trader; and 23-year-old Musa Bah, a motorcycle rider, on Friday made their first appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of the Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown. They are facing three counts of larceny and receiving stolen goods, contrary to Sections 2 and 33(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, on 20 September 2025 at Mamudu Town, Gloucester Village, in the Mountain Rural District of the Western Area, the first defendant, Marrah, allegedly stole six PVC pipes, half-ton 12mm full-length iron rods, oil paint, and other assorted building materials valued at Le 22,290, property of Claudia Sam.
The second count alleges that on the same date and location, the second defendant, Rugiatu Bah, received two large containers of Leather Shield paint valued at Le 1,300, knowing them to have been stolen. The third count alleges that the third defendant, Musa Bah, received half-ton 12mm full-length iron rods valued at Le 7,000, also knowing them to have been stolen.
All three defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read and explained to them.
Prosecution Witness Testifies
Detective Police Constable 18235 Thoronka K.K. led the second prosecution witness, Ms. Claudia Sam, a civil servant and owner of the stolen items. She told the court that she recognised all three defendants as residents within her community.
Narrating her ordeal, she recalled that on 20 September 2025, she was at her construction site when workers requested materials, including PVC pipes. She sent her two children, including Prosecution Witness 1 (PW1), to the storage room, but they later informed her that the pipes were missing.
Upon checking the store herself, she discovered that several building materials, including half-ton 12mm iron rods, 11mm and 5/8mm iron rods, over ten gallons of paint, electrical cables, and other items, had been stolen. She reported the matter to the police the following day.
Before the report, her children had observed footprints on the wall, and PW1 provided information pointing to the second and third defendants. She instructed PW1 to covertly record any relevant findings using a mobile phone.
Ms. Sam further told the court that police later executed a search warrant at the premises of the second and third defendants, where they recovered some of her stolen items, including buckets of paint and 12mm iron rods. She submitted receipts showing her purchase of the stolen items, which were tendered as Exhibits A1–A4, along with photocopies.
She confirmed that she subsequently provided a statement to the police.
Defence Cross-Examination and Adjournment
Defence counsel, F. Bayoh Esq., cross-examined the witness.
Magistrate Fornah adjourned the matter to 12 December 2025, with bail continuing for all defendants.
Thanks for reading! If you have any suggestions or questions about our services, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Follow Us:
