By Mamajah Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Mohamed Kargbo, a 27-year-old student and farmer, was arraigned before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Monday, February 24, 2025, facing a charge of larceny under section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The charge states that on September 13, 2024, in Royal Town, Kargbo allegedly stole a total of fifty-five thousand seven hundred Leones (Le 55,700.00), which included fifty-three thousand Leones (Le 53,000.00) and a Techno Spark 20 mobile phone valued at two thousand seven hundred Leones (Le 2,700.00), property of the Royal Ark Foreign Exchange Bureau, while in the custody of Philip Bockarie Kamara. Kargbo pleaded not guilty to the charge.
State Prosecutor Sergeant 3378 Ballay called upon prosecution witness Augustine Robert Lansana, a Deputy Sergeant attached to the Major Incident Unit at CID Headquarters, Freetown. Lansana recounted that on September 14, 2024, he was on duty when the complainant reported the larceny case and identified Kamara as the suspect.
Lansana testified that on September 15, 2024, a relative of Kamara brought Kargbo to him, along with one of the stolen Tecno Spark 20 phones. He further stated that on September 16, 2024, he collected Kargbo from Adonkia Police Station with the phone and brought him to CID Headquarters.
He confirmed that Kamara identified the mobile phone as the stolen item and handed it over to the Exhibit Clerk. Lansana also noted that Deputy Commissioner 11692 John P obtained a voluntary statement from Kargbo in Krio, which was recorded in English. Kargbo admitted the statement was accurate and signed it with his thumbprint, which was submitted as “Exhibit A1-11.”
Additionally, Lansana, along with the complainant and another officer, visited the crime scene, where Kamara identified a small kiosk containing a table with Le 51,200.00 hidden underneath. The crime scene officer documented the scene with photographs.
On October 14, 2024, Kargbo was formally charged with larceny, and the charging document was submitted as “Exhibit B1-3.” Bail for Kargbo has continued since his first appearance in court.
The case has been adjourned until March 11, 2025, for further proceedings.
