Unemployed Man Sentenced to 18 Months' Imprisonment for SLL12,000 Theft

Joseph Turay, a 32-year-old unemployed man, has been sentenced to 18 months in a correctional facility after admitting guilt to the theft of an iPhone, an Infinix Android phone, and cash totaling 12,350 Leone.

Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown delivered the judgment on Monday, October 27, 2025.

Turay was charged with larceny, an offence contrary to section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916. Court documents indicate the theft occurred at #28 Lucost Street, Kossor Town, Western Area. Turay was accused of stealing property belonging to Ibrahim Conteh, specifically an iPhone 11 Pro Max valued at nine thousand Leone, an Infinix Android phone, and 850 Leone in cash.

Upon the reading of the charges, Turay entered a guilty plea. The prosecutor, Sergeant 3379 Ballay T, confirmed to the court that Turay was a first-time offender with no previous criminal history. Both the caution statement and the charge sheet were presented and admitted into the court record.

The defendant, who was not represented by legal counsel, petitioned the court for clemency and leniency.

In issuing the sentence, Magistrate Fornah acknowledged that Turay, as a first-time offender, had saved the court's time and demonstrated remorse. However, the Magistrate also stressed that the defendant had permanently deprived the complainant of his property.

Magistrate Fornah sentenced Turay to serve 18 months at the male correctional facility in Freetown. The court stipulated that the sentence must be served in full unless the stolen properties are fully restored to the complainant.