Alusine Kamara, a landlord owning a property at 48 Mount Auroral in Freetown, has been dragged to court by his tenant, Mohamed Koroma on allegations of stealing twenty-five pairs of sneakers and one thousand new leones, totalling eight thousand new leones.
Alusine, aged 33years, who also doubles as a driver, appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of the Ross Road Magistrate Court No.1 on a charge of Store Breaking and Larceny contrary to Law.
According to police records, it was alleged that on Friday 29th September, 2023 at the above address, the accused broke into Mohamed apartment and stole twenty-five pairs of sneakers and cash of one thousand new leones.
The accused was arrested on 21st November, 2023 by Detective Police Constable, Campbell R.D. led in evidence by Sergeant 9874 Memunatu Manica Turay.
Prosecution Witness One (PW-1), Mohamed Koroma, recognised the accused as his landlord. He said he recalled on the day in question that he was at home, later left for his business place, and left his door key to one of his co-tenants Mohamed Muctarr.
PW-1 said after an hour he received a call from Mohamed Muctarr who gave him information about the accused. The witness said upon receiving the information, he left for the crime scene, disclosing that when he arrived, he discovered that his room was ransacked.
“I also discovered that twenty-five pairs of sneakers and a cash of one thousand new leones have been carted away,” Koroma explained to the court.
The witness said he reported the matter to the community chief, whose name was not disclosed. In the presence of the chief, the witness said the accused promised to refund the said sum.
He said he and the accused made an agreement letter, which was signed by both of them. The agreement letter was produced and tendered to form part of the court’s records.
The witness said after the expiration of the date, the accused failed to refund the said sum, and that warranted him to report the matter to Regional Ross Road Police Station, Harbour Division subsequently the accused was arrested and convened at the above-mentioned station where he made a statement.
After PW-1 concluded his testimony, Magistrate Kekura accorded the accused an opportunity to cross-examine the witness. In response, the accused intimated to the bench that he had no questions for him.
The accused was denied bail and sent on remand at the Male Correctional Centre on Pademba Road in Freetown.
The matter was adjourned to 19th December, 2023 for further hearing.
