On Monday, August 21st, 2023, 19-year-old John Richard Conteh was brought to court by Rugiatu Mustaffa Tarawalli, a Female Member of Parliament from Kenema District.

Tarawalli has accused Conteh of allegedly stealing over 2 billion old Leone’s worth of assorted items from her house

The accused John Richard Conteh made his first appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba road court Nol and was arraigned on three counts charges of Larceny in Dwelling house contrary to section 13(1) of the Larceny Act 1916.

According to the charge sheet on count one, the accused between the years of 2022 and 2023, at No3 cemetery road Adonkia Freetown, with intent to steal broke and enter into the dwelling house of Rugiatu Mussafa Tarawalli and looted therein box valued at 15 one square gold, thousands of United States dollars, Necklace, earring, bracelet, apple iPad, 7 gold wrist watch, human hair, four perfume, and other assorted items all to the total value of two billion three hundred and twelve million three hundred and sixty-one thousand old Loenes (2,312,361) property of Rugiatu Tarawalli.

The police further alleged on Count Two that the accused in the aforementioned years with the intent to steal entered into the dwelling house of Rugiatu Mussaffa Tarawalli and stole therein one digital Camara, one Africell Wi-fi, one woofer speaker all to the total sum of twenty six million two hundred and ten thousand old Leones, (26,210,000) property of Saffa.

Whiles Count Three added that the accused with intent o steal entered into the dwelling house of the complainant and stale therein one wristwatch and other assorted items with fiscal cash of two thousand new Lcones all to the total sum of NLe 27,850 property of Aminata Mabondo Amara when the charge was read and the plea was taken and no legal representation was made on his behalf of Hon. Tarwallli evidence by Chief Superintendent of Police Juan MS Hull said she is a Hon. Member from Keneni district.

She recognized the accused as his tailor who had been working for her for over 2years and recalled sometime in 2022 and 2023. She said the accused whiles working for her had access to her house, and at this juncture, the complainant burst into tears whiles looking at the accused in the dock noting that she is not familiar with court proceedings and that it was her first time to come to court.

Magistrate Ngegba however refuse bail and remand the accused to prison whiles the matter was adjourned to the 24th of August 2023 for the continuation of her cross-examination. Chief Superintendent Police Juan MS Bull and Inspector Mabel Tarawally were prosecuting the matter in court.