Assistant Superintendent of Sierra Leone Police Who Stole 126 Foam Mattresses Sent Back to Prison

Assistant Superintendent of Police, Abu Bakarr Nyanqui, on Monday 14th June 2021 made his third appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at the Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1 in the ongoing preliminary Investigation into theft allegation, and was sent back to jail.

According to the police, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Abu Bakarr Nyanqui on Monday 19th April 2021, at the Freetown Male Correctional Facility on Pademba Road in Freetown stole one hundred and fifty six pieces of assorted sizes of foam mattresses, property of the government of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

The accused Nyanqui faces one count of Larceny by servant contrary to Section 17(1a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.

Second prosecution witness, detective police inspector Sheku Ganda recognized the accused person in the dock.

He recalled that on the 20th April 2021, around 1400 hours when he received a distress call from ASP John Bai Sankoh, informing him of something that was happening at Regent Road.

“Upon receiving such information, I left with my team for Regent Road, and at the scene of crime I met Inspector Kanu of the Pademba Road Police Check Point. I also met one driver who identified himself as one of the driver’s of an impounded van which contained five mattresses,” He said.

He continued testifying that Inspector Kanu who was present at the scene told him that he was waiting on instructions from CID Headquarters. “Before long, the foam mattresses were taken to the CID. At the CID Headquarters I counted 126 foam mattresses which were handed to the CID for investigation,” he added.

He said the following day statements were obtained from the accused person. Inspector Ganda said he also made statement at the CID.

During cross-examination, defense counsel, lawyer Campbell asked if the witness gave any markings to the foams for him to be able to identify them, but the witness responded that it is only the exhibit clerk who has done that.

Magistrate Sahr Kekura sent Nyanqui to jail and he adjourned the matter to the 24th June 2021.