By: Alimatu Kargbo
A 24-year-old motorbike rider, Alie Sankoh, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after Magistrate Julia Mary Gbloh found him guilty of stealing a Samsung Galaxy A17 mobile phone from a passenger.
Sankoh, a resident of Port Loko, was convicted at Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 5 in Freetown for larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the charge sheet, Sankoh, on 16 June 2026, allegedly used deception along Lumley Road, Freetown, to steal a Samsung Galaxy A17 mobile phone valued at Le5,500, belonging to Mohamed Bangura.
Sankoh pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him, prompting a trial in which the prosecution called witnesses to establish its case. The accused, on the other hand, elected to rely on a statement he had made to police during the investigation.
In delivering her ruling, Magistrate Gbloh said she had carefully considered the evidence presented throughout the trial.
The magistrate found that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the phone belonged to the complainant and that Sankoh obtained possession of it through deception before permanently depriving the owner of his property.
With the court satisfied that all the elements of larceny had been established, Magistrate Gbloh convicted Sankoh and sentenced him to 20 months’ imprisonment.
The sentence brings the case to a close, with Sankoh now expected to serve his term in custody.
