Sierra Leone: Josephine Harding who had spent almost 3years in prison for allegedly stealing over 112 million Leones has been granted bail after she appeared before Justice Komba Kamanda JA presiding at the Freetown High Court.
She is currently facing one count of Larceny in a dwelling house contrary to Section 13(a) of the Larceny Act 1916. State counsel Yusif I. Sesay alleged that the accused person on the 5th June, 2015 at George Brook, Dworzack in Freetown, broke and entered into the dwelling house of Osman P. Conteh and stole the sum of Le112, 120,000 from the complainant.
Testifying in court, Detective Police Constable Bockarie Kallon attached to the Criminal Investigation Department headquarters, formally attached to New England Ville Police station, said he was on duty at the station when the complainant reported a case of Larceny in a dwelling house against the accused person and the matter was later allocated to him for further investigation.
The witness said he took a team of police investigators to the scene of crime at George Brook, Dwarzack, where they discovered a key that was allegedly used by the accused to open the door.
He continued that the team of investigators later proceeded to the premises of the accused to conduct a search warrant, and during the search they discovered 26 jerry cans of palm oil, two wraps of money bands which they took to the station as exhibits.
He further told the court that after the search warrant, they returned to the station and obtained statement from the complainant and witnesses. He said he was later informed that the accused is in Kenema and he also informed his colleague who later arrested the accused in Kenema.
He said on the 8th June, 2018, DPC 10783 Nyallay and himself obtained statement from the accused, and based on her statement the accused said she stole 200 United States Dollars which she gave to her mother for safe keeping and 2 million Leones to her sister to buy some jerry cans of palm oil.
He said on the 11th June, 2018, they went to Kenema and arrested the accused’s mother and sister, and obtained statement from them but they denied the allegations.
“On the 19th June, 2018, I and Detective Sargent 10783 Nyallay charged the accused with the offense of Larceny in a dwelling house,” he said.
Justice Kamanda adjourned the matter to Tuesday 18th May, 2021 for the defense counsel to cross examine the witness. The accused person is on bail, but she has not yet met her bail conditions.
SKS/06/05/2021