By Saio Marrah
Justice Komba Kamanda of High Court No.1, has sent three men, Alimamy Dumbuya alias Dead-Dead as first accused, Alie Kamara nicknamed Face-second accused and Idrissa Mansaray, all of May Drive Community in Regent, on remand at the Pademba Road Correctional Centre, over burglary and larceny charges.
Earlier during cross examination, First Prosecution Witness, Rev. Vidal Oswald Victor Cole told the court that on the night of the 20th August 2021, at about 2:15 in the morning, a sound coming from the back of his house woke him up from sleep.
He then went to his dining room and then towards the kitchen, where he heard a sound and movement, but the door was closed. He said he then realised that people were inside the kitchen.
Cole said he shouted thief! thief!, but since he was alone, he did not open the door, but rather went back and roused his son and wife, screaming that thieves have entered the house.
According to him, by the time they returned to the parlour they encountered five men, two of them wearing masks.
He said the intruders were carrying a giant cutter, machete, iron bars, and other metal objects. After narrating how nervous he was and thought that maybe his end and that of his family, he said he heard the first accused, Dumbuya giving instruction to the third accused Mansaray to advance, but the 3rd accused did not harm anyone.
After realising that he and his family were harmless, Rev. Cole told his wife and son to go to his own bedroom since that was the nearest room.
After getting into the room, they immediately locked the door, while the thieves also tried to force their way into the same room.
According to him, the accused persons also threw water on the floor with the hope that his family in the room holding firm to the bedroom door could slip off the tiles, but they still held on.
After shouting for help from his neighbours and making a phone call to one of his neighbours, he later heard a neighbour calling outside and asking him to open the door.
After opening the bedroom door they discovered that all their doors including the gate were widely opened, with the locks damaged.
The case file seen by Politico indicated that three phones, one Infinix Smart Mobile Phone valued 2 million old Leones, one Tecno button Mobile phone- 150 thousand old Leones, and a Nokia button phone that cost 150 thousand old Leones were missing.
In the morning he reported the case at the Eacon Police station and claimed while the Police were inspecting his house, he saw the first and second accused and with the help of the community people they were arrested.
He then saw the third accused among the crowd and was also arrested.
The prosecution witness also noted that the case was transferred to the Lumley Police station and statement obtained from him as well.
Cole questioned by Dunbuya claimed he knew the accused and that he did concrete work in the community.
Dumbuya also pointed out that Cole had not exhibited any evidence to show that indeed he was involved in the act and that he had once said that he has CCTV camera in his house, but Cole rejected such an assertion.
The witness also argued that he knew Kamara the second accused whom he had once hired to dig a pit in his garage.
The case was adjourned to a date that was yet to be determined by the judge.
Copyright © 2023 Politico Online (23/01/23)
