By Mamajah Jalloh
A prosecution witness has testified in an alleged theft case involving 23-year-old Alpha Umaru Newland, an unemployed man, who appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at the Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on Thursday, September 3, 2026.
Newland is facing two counts of larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916, and malicious damage, contrary to Section 51 of the Malicious Damage Act of 1861.
According to the particulars of the offence, the accused allegedly stole one set of generator control system copper cables valued at NLe137,000 and two 100-amp batteries valued at NLe9,000, bringing the total alleged value of the stolen property to NLe146,000.
The alleged incident occurred on Monday, March 23, 2026, at the Ministry of Finance on George Street in Freetown. The property is said to belong to the Ministry of Finance.
The second count alleged that, on the same date and at the same location, the defendant maliciously damaged the generator control system copper cables valued at NLe137,000.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendant, no plea was taken because the matter is before the court for committal proceedings.
The prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police Conteh S., led the prosecution’s second witness, Detective Police Constable Titus Musa, who testified that on March 24, 2026, while on duty at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, he received a report from the Senior Generator Technician at the Ministry of Finance concerning alleged malicious damage and larceny at the ministry.
Musa said that following the report, he obtained statements from the Senior Generator Technician and other officers who were on duty, including Inspector Idriss, Sergeant Fanna, Ahmed, Leslie Kenu, Abduloi Jalloh, Lamin Kargbo and Aminata Jalloh.
He further testified that the accused was cautioned and questioned in Krio, to which he responded in the same language. Musa said he recorded the statement in English and later read and explained it to the accused in Krio.
According to the witness, the accused admitted that the statement was true and correct and affixed his right-hand thumbprint. The statement was witnessed by Detective Sergeant 1389 Sahr Rosen Aliu and tendered as Exhibits G1–G5.
Musa further testified that on June 4, 2026, he and DPC 13878 Blango P. charged the defendant with larceny and malicious damage.
He said the accused was again cautioned and questioned in Krio, and his responses were recorded in English. The statement was subsequently read and explained to him in Krio, after which he admitted it to be true and correct and affixed his right-hand thumbprint.
The charged statement was witnessed by DPC 13878 Blango P. and tendered as Exhibits H1–H3.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Fornah remanded the defendant to the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown and adjourned the matter to September 9, 2026, for further proceedings.
