Nurse Faces Charges of Larceny and Fraudulent Conversion in Freetown Court

Police have submitted the charge statement for Sylvester Musa, 40, a nurse, who appeared before Magistrate Augustine Brima Samura at Pademba Road Court No. 8. He faces two charges: Larceny by Servant and Fraudulent Conversion.

The details of the offense indicate that on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Pujehun Government Hospital in the Pujehun Judicial District, Southern Province, the accused allegedly stole seventy-six cartons and thirty-three boxes of assorted free healthcare medical drugs. These items were entrusted to him in his capacity as a storekeeper at Pujehun Government Hospital in Pujehun Township.

The second charge states that on the same date and location, the accused unlawfully converted the aforementioned medical drugs, which were of significant value and entrusted to him for safekeeping, to his own use or benefit.

Upon the reading and explanation of the charges, the accused did not enter a plea.

Prosecution Witness Statement

The first prosecution witness, Sergeant 9859 Sahr Koroma Sundu, attached to TOCU Hastings as an investigator, testified that on May 3, 2025, he received a transferred case and enquiry file concerning the unlawful possession of the aforementioned pharmaceuticals, suspected to be free healthcare drugs.

The case originated from the Freetown West Police Division and included several key documents, such as:

A search warrant dated April 26, 2025, submitted as Exhibit A; the arresting officer’s report dated April 26, 2025, submitted as Exhibit B1-3; a request for verification and quantification of the drugs, dated April 28, 2025, submitted as Exhibit C1-2; the voluntary caution statement of the accused, dated April 26, 2025, submitted as Exhibit D1-10.

An additional caution statement, recorded in Krio and translated into English, was admitted by the accused as true and correct by affixing his thumbprint. This was recorded by the investigator and signed as the recorder, submitted as Exhibit E1-15.

On May 3, 2025, the case was assigned for further investigation. The witness, along with DPC 15063 Maju M, obtained a further caution statement from the accused in Krio, which was read over and explained to him. The accused confirmed its accuracy, and it was signed with his thumbprint.

Subsequently, a case and enquiry file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice, which was retrieved on May 29, 2025, and submitted as Exhibit F.

On the same day, the investigator and the DPC obtained a charge statement from the accused, detailing the specific offense he is facing. The statement was prepared following the same procedure as the voluntary caution statement, signed by the investigator, and submitted as Exhibit G1-3.

The witness was cross-examined by E. Kamara Esq.

Magistrate Samura granted bail to the accused in the sum of SLE 100,000 with two sureties of equal amount. The sureties must reside in Freetown and provide National Identity Cards with their addresses. Bail approval is subject to the Deputy Assistant Registrar's approval. The matter has been adjourned to July 3, 2025.