Joseph Abdulai Kamara and Abdul Raham Kamara have been remanded by Magistrate Bangura for stealing a military ambulance around Waterloo.

They are facing four counts of conspiracy, malicious damage, and larceny.

The police report stated that, in Waterloo, the accused persons, along with Abdulrahman Kamara alias Escoba Issah and other unidentified individuals, conspired to steal a Toyota Land Cruiser ambulance with registration number 70SL79, valued at three million three hundred thousand Leones (Le3,300,000), belonging to the Sierra Leone military, while it was under the custody of Colonel Stephen Sevalie.

Additionally, both accused persons are alleged to have maliciously damaged the said Toyota Land Cruiser ambulance while it was in Colonel Stephen Sevalie’s custody.

Providing testimony under oath, Sergeant 9715 Augustine Robert Lansana, attached to the Major Incident Unit at Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters (CID), recalled that on September 28th, 2022, Major Mamoud Papa Conteh reported a case of conspiracy, larceny, and malicious damage against the accused persons.

Sergeant Lansana informed the court that he was assigned to investigate the matter. He obtained statements from the complainant and witnesses separately.

On December 25th, 2022, a team of detective police officers, led by Inspector Jusu and scene of crime officer DPC 13374 Bockarie M, visited the crime scene in Waterloo, where they discovered the scrapped military ambulance vehicle, along with the first accused person.

Continuing his testimony, Lansana stated that on November 9th, 2023, he received information that the first accused person was in police custody for another criminal offence. Subsequently, on November 12th, 2023, he, along with the investigator, charged the first accused person with conspiracy, larceny, and malicious damage. The charge statement of the first accused person was submitted as evidence.

On December 25th, 2023, Lansana received intelligence that the second accused person was at Waterloo Police Station for another offence. The second accused person was brought to CID Headquarters on Pademba Road in Freetown, where caution statements were obtained. On January 8th, 2024, Lansana charged the second accused person with conspiracy, larceny, and malicious damage, presenting the charge sheet as evidence.

The accused persons did not have legal representation in court.

Magistrate Bangura remanded the accused persons and adjourned the matter to June 3rd, 2024, for further proceedings.