Magistrate Fornah Remands Mason
By: Alimatu Kargbo
Twenty-three-year-old mason, Alie Kargbo, has been remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown after appearing before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 over allegations of conspiracy to commit a crime and larceny.
Kargbo is facing two counts: conspiracy to commit a crime, contrary to law, and larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of the offences, on September 3, 2026, at College Road, Leicester Village, Mountain Rural District, Western Area, Freetown, Kargbo allegedly conspired with other persons unknown to commit a crime.
The second count alleges that on the same date and at the same location, he stole a yellow-and-black 3.5 KVA Thoprimo generator, valued at NLe60,000, belonging to Ellen Mathew.
When the charges were read and explained to him, Kargbo pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution, led by Sergeant 3379 Theresa Ballay, called its first witness, DPC 14084 Mary Bashiru, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department at the Fourah Bay College Police Post.
Testifying before the court, DPC Bashiru said she knew both the complainant and the accused.
She told the court that she was on duty at the police post when the complainant and other persons brought Kargbo to the station, where a report of larceny was made against him.
The witness said the matter was assigned to her for investigation and that she later visited the alleged crime scene with the complainant.
According to DPC Bashiru, the complainant identified the store from which the generator was allegedly stolen.
She told the court that she took photographs of the scene using her Tecno Camon 30S mobile phone. However, she said that after returning to the police post with the complainant, she put the phone on charge and later realised that she had forgotten to retrieve the photographs.
DPC Bashiru further testified that she obtained statements from the complainant and other witnesses during the investigation. The statements were subsequently tendered in court and admitted as part of the court records.
The witness also told the court that on September 4, 2026, she and DPC 14010 Kargbo F obtained a caution statement from the accused.
She said Kargbo was cautioned and questioned in Krio, while his responses were recorded in English.
According to the witness, after the interview, the statement was read over and explained to Kargbo, who confirmed it as true and correct by affixing his right-hand thumbprint. The investigating officer witnessed the process, while DPC Bashiru signed as the recorder.
The caution statement was tendered in court and admitted into evidence.
DPC Bashiru further testified that on September 5, 2026, she and DPC 14010 Kargbo F charged the accused with conspiracy and larceny, following the same procedure used in obtaining the caution statement.
The charge statement was also tendered and admitted as part of the court records.
Before concluding her testimony, DPC Bashiru told the court that she had referred to photographs taken at the alleged crime scene and would produce them if given time.
Magistrate John Manso Fornah subsequently adjourned the matter to September 29, 2026, for further proceedings.
Kargbo remains in custody at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown.
