By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Augustine Smith, a 29-year-old man, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing over 28,000 Leones from the account of Salamatu Sankoh, using her ATM card.
Smith appeared before Magistrate Shar Kekura on Friday, 15th November, 2024, at the Freetown Magistrate Court No. 1, where he was charged with larceny under section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The charge sheet revealed that on Thursday, 15th August, 2024, Smith unlawfully withdrew the sum of 28,000 Leones from Sankoh’s United Bank of Africa (UBA) account at the bank’s Rawdon Street branch in Freetown.
Upon being read the charges, Smith admitted to the crime and expressed regret for his actions. He explained to the court that he had used the stolen funds for a failed travel venture under the Q-net program. Smith further revealed that he and the complainant share a child and have lived together in the past, although Sankoh disputed this, stating that they are no longer cohabiting, but Smith still had access to her room.
Sankoh testified that she had saved the money in the bank to support their child, as Smith was not fulfilling his responsibilities as a father.
In a tearful plea for leniency, Smith asked Magistrate Kekura to show mercy, citing his family situation. However, Magistrate Kekura sentenced Smith to 24 months in prison at the Male Correctional Facility or a fine of 3,000 Leones.
