Police Inspector Testifies in Ongoing ECSL Theft Trial

Police Inspector I.S Mansaray has testified in the ongoing trial of a theft at the Electoral Commission For Sierra Leone (ECSL) office in Freetown.

In her testimony, the witness said she knew the first accused at ECSL, recognizing the second accused as security guard at ECSL, the third accused was a staff and she also knew the fourth accused in this matter.

The witness disclosed that on the 12th of September 2023, she was on patrol at ESCL warehouse Wellington in the afternoon. The witness continued by telling the court that she saw the first accused standing by the window of the warehouse, holding a blue ballot box containing white boxes, and when she asked him, the first accused told her that he was sent by Mr. Villa, one of the ECSL directors.

The witness continued that on the same day at about 9pm, she also met the first accused on the same window when she questioned him about that, he told her he was not doing anything, and she arrested the first accused and took him to her manager. The manager informed Mr. Villa about the incident, who suggested that they should search the place where the first accused was found.

According to the Witness they went to the crime scene where they discovered white boxes
containing tablets, 6 cartons and 3 ballot boxes. The witness concluded that they took the first accused to the Wellington police post and obtained statements from him. During cross-examination, Counsel Mohamed kamara asked if the witness saw the first accused inside the office where the items were, but answered in the negative, stating that she saw him at the window.

The defence counsel applied for bail for all accused persons which was refused. The matter adjourned to 31st January.