The Assistant Information Technology Director, at the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) Wellington Freetown, Solomon Robert Villa, has on Monday 11th December 2023, testified on a theft case at the Commission Tally Center, Wellington, before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of the Magistrate Court No.1

He recognized three of the accused persons including the first accused, Mohamed Turay as a Casual Worker at ECSL, and furthered that he knows the second accused Ishmael Sesay as a Security to ECSL from Pendrax Security Company, and the third accused Charles Francis Yongai as a Contract Staff at ECSL, whilst he was only seeing for the first time the fourth accused Sahr Kamanda now in Court.

Led in evidence by ASP Ibrahim Mansaray, he recalled the 30th September 2023, in contrast to the 12th September 2023 date put to him by the Prosecutor, upon the Prosecutor asking for an adjournment as he said they are here for a specific date, noting that he wanted to have a proper conference with the witness.

In that light C. Kamara and S. Thullah Esq. applied for bail which was refused and all four accused were remanded in custody until 14th December, 2023.

All accused are charged on three counts ranging from Conspiracy contrary to Law, Store Breaking and Larceny, and Receiving Stolen Goods all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.

On count 1, the charge sheet states that the accused persons on 12th September 2023, at the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone, Wellington in Freetown conspired together to commit a felony to wit Store Breaking and Larceny.

It further states that Mohamed Turay and Ishmael Sesay on the same date and place broke into the store of the Electoral Commission Office and stole one hundred and forty-two tables valued at four million, one hundred and ten Kenyan Shilling properties of the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone (ECSL), The charge sheet further read that the accused, Sahr Kamanda on a date in September 2023 at P.M B Wellington in Freetown did receive eleven (11) ECSL tables valued at three hundred and eighteen thousand, five hundred and thirty-eight Kenyan Shillings from Mohamed Turay knowing same to have been stolen.