29 year old Umaru Kargbo, an erstwhile manager of Saboath Construction and General Merchandise Company, made his first appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah of Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 1 in Freetown.

He is before the court for larceny by servant contrary to section 17(1) (A) of the Larceny Act 1916.

According to the particulars of offence, the accused on dates between Tuesday 2nd April 2024, and Friday 29th November 2024, at Zenith Bank Rawdon Street Freetown, being the manager of Saboath Construction and General Merchandise Company, stole the sum of two hundred and ninety two thousand eight hundred Leones (Le292,800.00) from account number: 6010184525 at Zenith Bank Sierra Limited, properties of Saboath Construction and General Merchandise Company.

The prosecutor Inspector M.K Taylor, led in prosecuting witness number one Cyril K. Jusu, a civil engineer to testify in court. He recognized the accused person at the dock. He said the accused was once a manager in his company.

He did recall between 2nd April 2024 and 29th November 2024 what transpired between the accused and him.

In his testimony, he said sometimes in December 2024, he went to Zenith Bank to check the construction company’s account for which the accused was also a signatory.

He said when the accountant showed him the balance of the account, he could not believe his eyes given the fact that the balance left in the said account was not commensurate to what should have been there.

The witness said that the accountant gave him the account’s statements in order for him to get access to it.

To form a part of the court records, the witness produced and tendered the bank account’s statement recorded as exhibit A.

At this point, the police prosecutor M.K Taylor requested for a short adjourned date to further prosecute the matter.

I.J Sesay Esq. in a bid to defend the accused person applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person, stating that the accused is a Sierra Leonean ordinarily resident within this jurisdiction.

He went on to say that the charge levied against the accused was a mere allegation pursuant to section 23 of the 1991 Constitution.

He added by saying that the accused would not interfere with the prosecution witness or witnesses if granted bail. And that the accused is not a flight risk. And that he would always avail himself before the court if bail is granted to him.

The defense concluded his bail application by referencing section 79 (2&3) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1965.

Having heard the bail application made by the defense counsel, Magistrate Jah, refused bail and remanded the accused to the Male Correctional facility due to the seriousness of the offense.

The matter was adjourned to the 30th June 2025.

5 still held for proposed murder of govt. official

The alleged proposed murder matter between Musa-Yaroh Barrie Director General Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority and five accused came up again on Tuesday 24 June 2025 before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No.2 where they were remanded again in custody.

The accused persons

Albert Sheriff Soluku, Foday Turay, Musa Kamara, Augustine Rashid Kelfala Josiah and Kadiatu Kamara were arraigned before the court on a count charge of proposing to murder -contrary to section 4 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861.

According to the police charge sheet, the accused persons on Friday, 18th April, 2025, in Freetown, proposed to murder Musayaroh Barrie.

After the matter was mentioned by prosecutor CSP Joan Bull the witness DPC 17171 Alie Kamara attached to the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters was present and was cross examined by defense counsel Madieu Sesay.

Answering to questions by defense counsel, witness Kamara was asked whether he has knowledge of how the complainant received those threatening audios recording made by the accused persons but he responded in the negative.

The witness further said that he forwarded the audio messages to the lab analysis for examination and also confirmed before the court that the complainant is not a voice expert.

At this juncture, defense counsel Sesay sought for an adjournment to continue his cross examination.

He also renewed his bail application on behalf of his clients but was refused by the learned Magistrate.

They were remanded in custody until 1st July 2025 for continuation of cross examination.