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Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Ross Road Court No. 1 remands three individuals, namely Ibrahim Kebay, Yusuf Kamara, and Isatu Kamara, at the Male and Female Correctional Centers on Pademba Road in Freetown.
They are accused of stealing 200 bags of parboiled Indian rice, while the third accused is charged with receiving 45 bags of parboiled rice, knowing they were stolen.
The total value of the stolen rice amounts to one hundred and twenty-seven thousand Leones (NLE270,000). The complainant in the case is Abdul Kebay.
The accused were arrested on 1st July 2023 by Detective Police Constable (DPC) 12144 Jalloh and brought before the court on charges of conspiracy, larceny, and receiving stolen goods, all of which are in violation of the law.
According to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Kebay and Yusuf Kamara conspired with unidentified individuals on 21st June 2023 at No. 57 Main Motor Road in Waterloo, on the outskirts of Freetown, to steal two hundred bags of Indian rice valued at NLE270,000 belonging to Abdul Kabay.
The charge sheet further states that Isatu Kamara, the third accused, received 54 bags of stolen Indian parboiled rice valued at NLE29,250 from Yusuf Kamara on the same date and in the same location in Freetown.
During the proceedings, Defense Counsel A. K. Kamara, representing the third accused, applied for bail on behalf of his client. He assured the court that his client is a Sierra Leonean and that reliable sureties are willing and ready to stand as guarantors.
Lawyer Kamara stated that his client would not interfere with the prosecution’s witnesses. He based his bail application on Section 79(2), (3), and (3) of the Criminal Procedure Act No. 32 of 1965, and emphasized that if granted bail, the accused would always appear in court when required.
Mr. Kamara apologized to the bench for his client’s tardiness and assured that such behavior would not be repeated. He also pledged to counsel his client accordingly.
In response, the prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Osman M. Bangura, objected to bail, citing the substantial amount of money involved in the case.
Although the defense had not been served an affidavit opposing bail, ASP Bangura still objected to it.
Following the arguments, Magistrate Kekura denied bail to the accused and ordered their remand at the Male and Female Correctional Center on Pademba Road in Freetown. The case was adjourned to 20th July 2023 for further proceedings
