Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Freetown Magistrate Court No.1 has remanded three members of family in custody for allegedly stealing $7,000 while serving as caretakers at Kai Kamara House.

The accused, Abubakarr Turay, Fatmata Bangura, and their daughter Kadiatu Turay, faced charges of conspiracy to commit a crime and larceny, in violation of the Larceny Act of 1916.

According to the charge sheet, the incident occurred on January 15, 2025, at Fadika Drive, Hill Station, Freetown.

The prosecution alleges that the three conspired to steal $7,000 (Le170,100) belonging to Kai Kamara and that is a crime.

When the charges were read, Abubakarr Turay pleaded not guilty, while Fatmata Bangura and Kadiatu Turay admitted to the offenses charged against them.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Aminatu Daboh led as the prosecution witness number one. Musa Koroma, a businessman, said he recognized the accused persons in the dock and he know the complainant  Kai Kamara as his brother the witness identified Abubakarr Turay the first accused person as Kamara’s caretaker, Fatmata Bangura as the first accused Turay wife, and Kadiatu Turay as their daughter.

He recalled visiting the complainant  apartment at Imatt on January 11th 2025.

Kamara informed him that he would be traveling in two days and planned to deposit parts of the money into his bank account as Kamara went upstairs to take his bath.

After that he went and checked for his money but he couldn’t find it.

He called Abubakarr Turay, who came downstairs shortly afterward with his daughter, Kadiatu, who appeared visibly upset.

The witness said he asked what was wrong, the first accused refused to explain.

Upon that he went upstairs and found the complainant distressed and he told him that “These people have stolen his money,” the witness said and the complainant was sad.

The witness said he left the complainant and went downstairs but found the third accused Kadiatu, still crying. Moments later, she confessed to him that he has $100 in her bag, claiming she found it while laundering Kai Kamara’s clothes.

The witness said upon that he followed her to their apartment, where he discovered the money in a yellow bag.

The witness said the police arrived, and a search was made at the accused persons apartment where  Le11,150 and was found the police officer questioned the second accused Fatmata Bangura. Fatmata claimed that the money belongs to her husband the first accused.

The three accused persons were arrested and taken to Mountain Cut Police Station.

The witness said since the interception of the matter and being questioned multiple times the first accused Abubakarr maintained his innocent that he didn’t know anything about the money.

Defense counsel applied C.Kamara applied for bail on behalf of the accused persons.

Magistrate Kekura refused bail based on the seriousness of the allegations charge against the accused persons.

The matter was adjourned to 11th of February 2025.