By: Alimatu Kargbo
Magistrate John Manso Fornah of the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2 has sentenced Alpha Umaru Newland to 36 months imprisonment for stealing and maliciously damaging property belonging to the Ministry of Finance.
Newland was sentenced to 36 months on the larceny count and 18 months on the malicious damage count. Magistrate Fornah ordered that both sentences run concurrently at the Male Correctional Centre.
The court heard that on Monday, March 23, 2026, at the Ministry of Finance on George Street, Freetown, Newland stole a generator control system copper cable valued at Le137,000 and two 100-amp batteries valued at Le4,500 each, bringing the total value of the stolen property to Le146,000.
The court further heard that on the same date and at the same location, Newland maliciously damaged the generator control system copper cable, valued at Le137,000.
Newland was before the court on two counts: Larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916, and Malicious Damage, contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861.
Having been convicted on both counts, the matter proceeded to sentencing.
In passing sentence, Magistrate Fornah took into consideration that Newland was a first-time offender and had pleaded with the court for mercy. The Magistrate also considered the circumstances surrounding the offences before arriving at the sentence.
For the first count, Newland was sentenced to 36 months imprisonment, while the second count attracted 18 months.
The court ordered that both sentences run concurrently at the Male Correctional Centre. Magistrate Fornah further directed that the period Newland had already spent in custody be taken into account as part of his sentence.
The court subsequently concluded the matter with the sentencing order.
