By: Ibrahim J. Conteh
Vijay Sharwa, 33-year-old India national and Manager at the National Confectionary Company Limited (NATCO) at Wellington Industrial Estate made another appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at the Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown on one count charge to wit illegal abstraction of electricity supply contrary to Section 68 (1) (a) of the National Electricity Act No.16 of 2011.
According to the police charge sheet, it was alleged that on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at PMB Junction, Wellington, in Freetown, the accused dishonestly abstracted electricity supply.
Led in evidence by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Ibrahim S. Mansaray, prosecution witness No.1, Inspector Amadu Wurie Jalloh, attached to the Electricity Department Unit, Criminal Investigations Department (CID ) headquarters, recalled 8th September, 2021 whilst on duty at CID headquarters, the accused person together with one Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA) meter were brought to the station.
He added that upon receipt of the meter, the matter was assigned to him for investigation and that the meter was tagged and registered and submitted to the exhibit clerk.
He said he obtained statement from the complainant on the same date, while he and ASP Kamara M.S. obtained statement from the accused person.
The said statement of the accused was tendered in court as part of court records as exhibit E1-10.
The witness said on the 9th September, 2021, himself and ASP Kamara M.S. charged the accused person with the offence of illegal abstraction of electricity supply.
He said ASP Kamara A.S. served as witness while he signed as the recorder of the charge statement which was also tendered in court and marked as exhibit F1-3.
The witness was cross-examined by defense counsel Johnson.
Magistrate Kekura adjourned the matter to the 28th January, 2022.