Twenty years old Julius Aruna Mongoh, a scrap metal dealer made his first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road court No.1 in Freetown on two count charges to wit malicious damage contrary to section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act 1861 and larceny contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.

According to the particulars of offence on Saturday 1st February, 2025 at the Government Printing Department New Englandville in the western area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, maliciously damaged four air conditioners valued thirty thousand leones each all to the total value of one hundred and twenty thousand leones (120,000) property of the Government Printing Department at New Englandville in Freetown.

Count two further stated that on the same date and place, the accused person stole four air conditioners valued thirty thousand leones each all to the total value of one hundred and twenty thousand leones (120,000) property of the Government Printing Department at New Englandville in Freetown.

When the charges were read and explained to the accused, he pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor Inspector Kadie M. Taylor led four witnesses and the file was withdrawn for ruling.

Magistrate Kekura in his judgment said the prosecution in a bid to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused person called four witnesses in evidence including the formal witness and the exhibit clerk who tendered various exhibits respectively and the accused who was unrepresented cross examined the witnesses and in self defence relied on his statement made to the police where he denied the allegations. Magistrate Kekura said in every criminal proceeding they rely on the prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused person and where there is a doubt that doubt should be resolved in favour of the accused person who denied the allegation to the police and prosecution witness number one who is the security guard saw the accused scaling the fence with the coppers also the accused was caught with the copper and it was tendered as exhibit in court. The said exhibit was identified by prosecution witness number two who is the Director of Sierra Leone Government Printing Services as their property in the light of the foregoing. The Magistrate said he was convinced that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the accused person as was held in the case of Woolavington vs D.P.P as the accused was guilty as charged.

The accused pleaded with the Magistrate to tamper justice with mercy on his behalf.

Having pleaded for mercy and taken into consideration that this is his first time he has been a convict in the court Magistrate Kekura y sentenced the accused to eighteen months at the correctional center or pay a fine of two thousand leones to the state.