Kenema High Court Jails Man Four Years for Burglary and Larceny

The High Court in Kenema has sentenced Mohammed Sesay to four years’ imprisonment after finding him guilty of burglary and larceny in a property theft case.

Justice Abdul Sheriff handed down the sentence after ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against Sesay, who was charged under Sections 25(1) and 13(a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.

The court heard that on 27 December 2025, at Boajibu Town, Simbaru Chiefdom, Kenema District, Sesay broke into the residence of Abu Baker Mustapha with the intention of stealing.

According to the prosecution, several items were stolen from the house, including a car battery, solar charge controller, 200-watt solar inverter, brown leather boots, power chain saw, one litre of Sniper insecticide, two plastic bundles, a National Identity Card and a black bag, with a total estimated value of Le6,095.

State Counsel Andrew Fafay Kamara presented four prosecution witnesses and tendered exhibits linking Sesay to the alleged offence. A key part of the prosecution’s case was when the complainant identified Sesay wearing one of the stolen brown leather boots, which the court considered a strong connection between the accused and the stolen property.

Sesay, who was represented by Patrick Kamara of the Legal Aid Board, denied the allegations. He told the court that he had purchased the boots from a former tenant of the complainant. However, the court noted that the alleged seller could not be traced or brought before the court to support his claim.

In his ruling, Justice Abdul Sheriff stated that although Sesay had pleaded not guilty, the prosecution was required to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. After considering the testimonies and exhibits presented, the judge concluded that the prosecution had successfully established the accused’s guilt.

The court subsequently convicted Mohammed Sesay of burglary and larceny and sentenced him to four years in prison.

The judgment highlights the importance of evidence, particularly the identification of stolen property and witness testimony, in determining the outcome of criminal cases.

It also reinforces the need for proper verification of claims made during legal proceedings, especially where a defence relies on the testimony of third parties.