By Ali Jaw
Four men facing burglary charge on Monday continued their trial hearing before Magistrate M.S. Jallow of Kanifing Magistrates’ Court.
The alleged thieves: Lamin Ceesay, Kebba Manneh, Kebba Touray, and Ousman Ceesay were apprehended by officers from Anti-Crime Unit.
When the case was called in court, Corporal Ansumana Kujabi, a police detective officer told the court that: “in January, 2020, information was received by a detective sergeant about one Lamin Ceesay alias Ello, who lives in Tallinding.”
Corporal Kujabi continued that the information provided that Lamin Ceesay involved in most breaking and stealing around the Kanifing area. Acting on the information provided, detectives of the Ant-Crime Unit went in search of Lamin Ceesay, arrested him, and took him to the Anti-Crime Unit Headquarters.
Upon arrival at the Anti-Crime Unit Headquarters, in the office of the C.I.D., he said the alleged burglar was interrogated to ascertain the factuality of the information received. He added that the alleged thief told the investigators that, in December 2019, he conspired with Kebba Manneh, Kebba Touray and Ousman Ceesay to steal certain materials.
Corporal Kujabi continued that the alleged burglar told him that, in December, 2019, he and his co-accused break into a house at Bakau Kachically where they stole a Flat screen TV, two mobile phones, and some jewelry.
Acting on the information provided by the suspect, he said the detective officer went to Bakau to locate the accused co-conspirator, whereby one Kebba Manneh was arrested later.
He was also interrogated and acknowledged to the revelations of Lamin Ceesay. The detective personnel later went to Mile 2 prisons to fetch the other two remaining accomplices, Kebba Ceesay, and Ousman Ceesay, who also admitted to being involved in burglary prior to their detention at Mile II Central Prisons.
The witness stated that, after their confessions, they were taken to Bakau Kachically and then to Serrekunda Black Market and at the Serrekunda Black Market, one Lamin Fatty, who is believed to have purchase the stolen items was arrested and taken to the Anti-Crime office for interrogation. And later he (Lamin Fatty) confirmed that he purchased the equipment from Ousman Ceesay, one of the suspects.
However, two of the accused persons denied admitting to committing any crime. They also denied all the accusations leveled against them as they dismissed the testimony of the police witness and said his testimony his total false.