Two military officers, Mohamed Buya Fofanah, 49, and Idrissa Conteh, 46, appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at the Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown, facing charges related to store breaking and larceny.

The duo is accused of stealing solar equipment from the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) compound in Kirma, Port Loko District.

The alleged incident took place on July 10, 2024, at the SLRA facility in Kafu Bullom Chiefdom, where Fofanah reportedly broke into the store and stole six solar batteries and 34 solar panels, with a total value of 79,000 Leones.

Conteh, the second accused, is charged with receiving two stolen solar panels valued at 2,000 Leones, fully aware they were stolen.

During the court session, no plea was entered by the accused, and Prosecutor Detective Police Constable K.K. Thoronka requested a bench warrant for Conteh, who was absent, as well as an adjournment to allow time for the prosecution to present a witness.

Magistrate Bangura granted the application, ordering the remand of Fofanah to the male correctional facility in Freetown, while adjourning the case to October 10, 2024.