Magistrate Remands Leocem Suspects At Pademba Road Prison

By Fatima Sesay

Detective Police Constable 11213 Mohamed Kandeh has tendered statement of the accused persons before Magistrate Augustine Brima  Samura of Pademba Road Court No.8. The accused persons: Anthony Kamara, Alusine Sesay and Josephus Mansaray, made another  appearance in Court on two count charges of Conspiracy, contrary to law, and Store breaking, contrary to section 26th (1) of the larceny Act 1916 According to the particulars of offence; on the 27th May 2025 at LEOCEM CEMENT factory, Bett Street, Kanikay, Cline Town, Freetown, conspired together and with other persons unknown to commit a crime, to wit: store breaking and larceny. The police further alleged on count two that on the same date and place, the accused persons, with intent to steal, broke and entered into LEOCEM CEMENT factory Lubricant store, Bett Street, Kanikay, Cline Town, and stole therein two hundred and eight litres CLP Oil, one hundred and eighty litres of EP2 Oil and two hundred and eight litres of 15W40, all to the total value of sixty two thousand seven hundred and ninety eight Leones(62,798,00), Property of LEOCEM CEMENT factory The Prosecution Witness No 3, Dpc 11213, Mohamed Kandeh, led in evidence by  DPC 14898, Joseph Lamin Dumbuya, said he is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department, Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division, Freetown. He recognized the accused persons and the complainant in the matter and recalled the events of the 27th May 2025, adding that on the above date, he was on duty when the complainant arrested and brought the accused persons and made a report of store breaking and larceny, and that the file was allocated to him for further investigation. He added that on the same date, he, Sergeant 4605, Kandeh B.M, and the Crime Officer went to crime scene where he observed that the store was broken through the roof, furthering that the Crime Officer took snapshots of the scene in his presence, where they met four Jerry cans of engine oil, two plastic bucket grease, one rope of mixed colours, one white sandal and one white aluminium ladder, which was treated as exhibit in this matter and was handed over to exhibit clerk for safe keeping. The witness said that on the same date,  he and Sergeant 4606, Kandeh B.M, obtained voluntary caution statement from the accused persons in krio language, separately, adding that at the conclusion of the statement, it was read over and explained to the accused persons separately, which they admitted same to be true and correct by affixing their right hand thumbprint separately and witnessed by the said investigator, and he signed as the recorder of the statement. This was produced and tendered in court to form part of the Court’s records. He continued that on the 1st June 2025, he obtained charged statement from the accused persons separately, with the offences they are standing trial on by using the same procedure as in their voluntary caution statement, witnessed by the said investigator and he signed as the recorder the the charge statement. This was also produced and tendered in court to form part of the Court’s records The Defense Counsel S.L Lewis renewed and adopted his previous Bail applications on behalf of the accused persons. Meanwhile Magistrate Samura refused bail based on the seriousness of the offence charged, and sent the accused persons to the male correctional facility in Freetown and adjourned the matter to the 25th June 2025 for cross-examination.