Twenty-three years old Philip Mallay alias Zuzu made his first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown on two count charges to wit robbery with violence contrary to section 23 (1) (b) of the Larceny Act of 1916 as repealed and replaced by section 1 of the Schedule of the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021 act No.6 of 2022 and assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to section 47 of the Offences against the Persons Act 1861.

According to the particulars of offence, on Sunday 27th April, 2025 at Texaco Junction in the western area of Freetown robbed Kadiatu Ruth Sesay of one IPhone 15 Promax valued forty five thousand leones (45,000) and immediately before such robbery did use personal violence on the said Kadiatu Ruth Sesay.

In count two, on the same date and place, the accused person assaulted the said complainant in a manner thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm.

When the charges were read and explained to the accused person, no plea was taken.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Ibrahim S. Mansaray led prosecution witness number one Kadiatu Sesay a businesswoman who recognized the accused person on the very day of the incident and recalled on 27th April, 2025. She said herself and her sister Shanatu Mansaray went to a birthday party at Shell. She said she was in possession with her Iphone 15 Promax and was leaned on a stationary vehicle whilst looking at photos in the phone.

“Then suddenly, the accused approached me and repeatedly punched me on my face. I was about to fall into a gutter when the accused further prim my breast and snatched the phone from me. I felt pain in my nose and breast and I had scars on my feet,” the witness further told the court.

She said accused then went with the phone in the gutter and ran away. “I then went to Ross Road Police Station and made report. It was one of his friends, who said it was him who stole, the phone upon that she later made statement to the police.

Meanwhile Magistrate Kekura refused bail based on the seriousness of the allegation and sent the accused person to the male correctional facility in Freetown and adjourned the matter to 21st May, 2025.