August 18, 2016 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma
Presiding Magistrate at the Freetown Magistrates’ court No1, Dr. Abou Bhakarr Binneh-Kamara, on Monday August 15, 2016 discharged one Steven Conteh, who was standing trial for the offence of larceny.
The accused person, who was in court on a count charge of larceny, contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916, was discharged for want of prosecution evidence.
The prosecution had alleged that the accused on Friday 24 June, 2016 at Bombay Market in Freetown, stole one black bag containing the sum of one million Leones, property of one Aminata Conteh.
In his discharge statement, Magistrate Kamara said since the commencement of the matter, the prosecution has not summoned any witness to testify in court, while the accused was languishing in custody.
“This court had taken eight adjournments and the prosecution had not come forward with any witness. I cannot continue keeping the accused behind bars when the complaint doesn’t want to come and testify against him,” he said.
“People are in the habit of taking others to court just for them to be remanded. They would not bother to testify in court and I consider such act as total wickedness. I hereby discharge this matter for want of evidence.”