Freetown, Sierra Leone – October 5, 2023: In a recent verdict handed down by Magistrate Peter Brima Gogra at Pademba Road Court No.6, 23-year-old Abu Bakar Sesay has been sentenced to eight months in prison for his involvement in the theft of chairs from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) premises.
Sesay appeared before the court on a single count of larceny, as per Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916. It was alleged that on August 10, 2023, Sesay pilfered six metal chairs valued at one thousand, nine hundred and twenty Leones (Le 1,920) from the WAEC located on A.J. Momoh Street in Tower Hill, Freetown.
Upon having the charge read and explained to him, Sesay pleaded guilty to the offense, leading to an immediate conviction by Magistrate Gogra.
Before delivering the sentence, Police Constable 17220 Joel B Sannoh presented a key prosecution witness, DPC 17030 Koroma M.S, who is attached to the Exhibit Office at Central Police Station. DPC 17030 Koroma M.S testified that one of his responsibilities is to register exhibits of cases that have been investigated and subsequently brought to court, tendering them when required.
He recalled an incident on August 12, 2023, during his duty at the Central Police Station when DPC 18627 S Chatty handed over six old metal chairs to him. These chairs were formally registered in the court exhibit book under serial number 85/2023 and remained in police custody since then.
The stolen chairs were presented and accepted in court as evidence, forming an integral part of the court records.
Despite his lack of legal representation in court, Abu Bakarr Sesay pleaded for leniency and mercy from the court.