April 5, 2017 By Memunatu Bangura
Alvin Valentine Massaquoi, a staff of Sea Coach Express, was yesterday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by Justice Ernest Gooding of the Freetown High Court after being found guilty on a three count charges of Larceny by Servant contrary to law.
The convict was before the High Court on three count charges of larceny by servant contrary to Section 17(1) a of the Larceny Act 1916.
The State had alleged that the accused Alvin Valentine Massaquoi, on diverse dates in March, April and May, 2016, being a servant of the Sea Coach Express, Aberdeen, stole the total sum of eighteen million, eight hundred and twenty five thousand Leones (Le 18,825,000).
In his judgement, Justice Gooding said the accused was an employee of the Sea Coach Express and that he was on a monthly salary, adding that on 16th March, 2016, he was transferred to the bar of the sea transportation company in Aberdeen to act as sales person.
He said at the end of March, 2016, the accused failed to present financial report, adding that he continued selling at the bar, while audit was later carried out and revealed that the accused failed to account for some monies.
He said when asked, he informed his employers that he had deposited the missing sum in the company’s account at Zenith Bank, but failed to produce the bank slip.
He stated that the action of the accused was intentional, planned and premeditated as he wanted to use the money to travel abroad at the expense of others.
He noted that the sentenced should be run concurrently.