’40 Months Imprisonment for Stealing Generator in Freetown’

Nicolas Johnson, a driver, on Tuesday 9th June 2026, was sentenced by Magistrate Mary Julie Gbloh at Pademba Road Court No. 5 in Freetown on one count charge of larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.

According to the particulars of offence, the accused person, Johnson, on Wednesday 20th May 2026, at No. 23 Main Motor Road, Congo Cross, Freetown, in the Western Area of the Republic of Sierra Leone, did steal one (1) 5000 KVA diesel generator valued at Seventy-Four Thousand Leones (Le 74,000), property belonging to Ernestina Naomi Kai Abbey.

The court heard that the incident occurred when the complainant’s property was unlawfully taken from her premises without her consent. Investigations led to the arrest of the accused person, who was subsequently charged to court for the said offence.

When the matter came up for hearing, the defendant entered a plea of guilty. Upon his plea, the prosecution proceeded to outline the facts of the case, which were admitted by the accused person, and the court thereafter found him guilty as charged.

In her ruling, Magistrate Mary Julie Gbloh stated that having carefully considered the facts presented before the court, as well as the voluntary plea of guilt entered by the defendant, the court was satisfied that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The magistrate further stated that the conduct of the defendant, which involved unlawfully entering the complainant’s property and making away with a valuable generator, demonstrated a clear and deliberate intention to permanently deprive the owner of her lawful property. She emphasized that such acts of dishonesty and disregard for the law contribute to insecurity within communities and must be firmly discouraged by the courts.

Magistrate Gbloh further noted that theft-related offences continue to affect citizens and businesses in Sierra Leone, and as such, the court must impose sentences that serve both punishment and deterrence. She added that the defendant’s action was intentional and unjustified, and therefore warranted a custodial sentence.

Accordingly, the court sentenced Nicolas Johnson to forty (40) months imprisonment. The court also ordered that Exhibit C1, a green 5000W diesel generator, be restituted and returned to the rightful owner, Ernestina Naomi Kai Abbey, as part of the court’s restitution order.