August 31, 2016 By Hassan Gbassay Koroma
Three accused persons were yesterday granted bail in the sum of Le50 million each by the presiding magistrate at the Freetown Magistrates’ Court No.1, Dr. Abou Bakarr Binneh-Kamara.
The trio -Thomas Hagatay, Mohamed Bangura and Daniel Kargbo – are being preliminarily investigated on three counts of illegal abstraction of electricity energy, contrary to Section 10 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
The prosecution alleges that the accused persons on Wednesday, 24 August, 2016 at No.9 Peninsular Road, Cassava Farm, Juba Hill in Freetown, fraudulently converted electricity supply from the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) to be diverted to the said house.
Applying for bail on behalf of the accused persons, who all deny the charges, defence counsel Robert B. Kowa informed the court that the trio was granted bail by the police but still availed themselves in court to answer to the charges.
He pleaded with the magistrate that if bail was granted to the accused persons they would always avail themselves in court, adding that all of them have reliable sureties that were willing and ready to stand in their recognisance.
Magistrate Kamara granted bail to the accused persons and ordered that two sureties resident in the Freetown jurisdiction stand in their respective recognisance.