In a recent legal development, eight individuals, identified as Alpha Bangura, Patheh Jalloh, Dauda Jalloh, Santigie Koroma and four others found themselves in the spotlight as they made their first court appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba at Court No1 on Pademba Road in Freetown. They were facing allegations of breaking into the Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church and stealing items valued at over one hundred thousand Leones.
The accused were charged with a total of seven counts, encompassing a range of offenses. These include conspiracy, sacrilege, attempted arson, malicious damage, throwing missiles, riotous conduct, and disorderly behavior, all of which contravene various sections of the law.
According to the specifics of the charges, on the 24th of September 2023, Alpha Bangura, Patheh Jalloh, Dauda Jalloh, Santigie Koroma, and the four others allegedly conspired to commit a crime at the Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church in Quarry Kissy, Freetown.
The second charge alleges that on the same date and at the same location, all accused persons unlawfully entered the Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church and stole items including a Lenovo laptop computer, a computer laptop, an iPhone 13 Pro Max, an Ultra Samsung mobile phone, and ten yards of carpet, totaling one hundred and twenty-seven thousand two hundred Leones (Le127,200/00). These items were the property of the church.
The third charge accuses Alpha Bangura of attempting to set fire to the Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church on the same date and at the same place.
The fourth charge claims that Patheh Jalloh and the eighth accused person maliciously damaged 58 pieces of window glasses and their frames, three plasma televisions, two HPIS computers, and other valuable items, all with a total value of three hundred and twenty-seven thousand new Leones. These items also belonged to the Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church.
The fifth charge states that the accused parties, excluding Alpha Bangura, were found throwing missiles at the Gateway Evangelistic Ministry Church on the same date and at the same location.
The sixth charge alleges that the accused parties engaged in riotous conduct at the same date and place.
The seventh charge asserts that all the accused individuals behaved in a disorderly manner on the same date and at the same location.
During the court proceedings, the accused were represented by Julian Cole, Esq., who applied for bail. However, the Prosecutor objected to bail, citing concerns that some of the accused do not have fixed addresses and might jump bail.
Following arguments from both sides, the Magistrate noted that if most of the accused do not have permanent addresses, the Police should not have granted them bail in the first place. In light of this, bail was granted to Alimamy Koroma and Mohamed Conteh, both students, under special conditions. They were required to pay one hundred and fifty thousand Leones each and provide one surety. These sureties must be gainfully employed and surrender their voter or national ID cards.
For the remaining accused individuals, bail was granted at one hundred and fifty thousand Leones each and they were also required to provide two sureties each, who must be gainfully employed.
Failing to meet these conditions, the accused persons were taken into custody and are scheduled for a court appearance on the 20th of October 2023. The prosecution of the matter is being handled by ASP Ibrahim Mansaray.
