By Saio Marrah
Three staff members of Emzor Pharmaceuticals of the same business have appeared before a magistrate court in Freetown on allegations of stealing pharmaceutical products.
Jimmy Tao, and Daniel Conteh both inventory assistants, and Morlai Kamara, Sales Assistant are accused of stealing products valued at four hundred and three thousand, three hundred and sixty-two New Leones and one hundred cents (NLe 403,362.100)
44-year-old Tao, Conteh (40), and 32-year-old Kamara as the first second, and third accused respectively appeared before Magistrate Mark Ngegba at Pademba Road Court.1 on Monday 30th October 2023.
The first prosecution witness, Iwalehin O. Tosin as supervisor of the Kissy Road Branch of the facility and Inventory Officer at 6 Walpole Street in Freetown, where the said theft occurred, identified the first and second accused as his assistants at the Walpole Street branch. According to him, the two had been employed for ten years and identified the third accused, Kamara, as a cleaner at the Kissy Road Branch.
He told the court that on the 10th of October this year, the management of the pharmacy discovered that a good number of products including drugs at the warehouse had gone missing but that there was no breakage in the warehouse.
The witness said the country manager then called a meeting informing the staff of what had happened and asked the first and second accused what they knew about the products but that they denied having any knowledge of the missing products.
The court heard that the two accused persons even called for an investigation to be instituted. From that point, he said the country manager called in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Sierra Leone Police.
During the same meeting, he said a search was initiated at the residence of the first accused at Moyeba, off Black Hall Road, where they discovered most of the missing products after which they proceeded to the residence of the second accused at Black Hall Road in Eastern Freetown where they also discovered some of the missing products. According to him, the police brought all the products to their station.
He further informed the court of how the country manager then gave the accused 24 hours to confess because he did not want to take legal action because having worked for the pharmacy for years, management regarded them as family. He said the accused returned to the office after 24 hours saying they knew nothing and suggesting that the law must take its course.
The witness however told the court that he knew nothing about the third accused.
During a cross-examination by Lawyer Samby A. Conteh, the witness admitted that they have security guards at the facility. He also told the court that he (witness) together with the first and second accused had access to the keys to the warehouse, but that no one takes the warehouse keys home.
The witness also admitted that no personnel saw the first and second accused taking the drugs and that the accused had never been reported to the police for larceny at any time in the past.
The witness also pointed out that the items found at the premises of the first and second accused are products imported by Emzor Pharmaceutical.
The three accused are charged with two counts of conspiracy and larceny by a servant.
The summary trial resumes on the 2nd of November this year.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (01/11/23)
