By Emma Black
Fifteen-year-old Milford King, a plumber, and Nyakeh Lahai Kallon, a mason, made their first appearance before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown, facing two counts of house breaking and larceny under Section 25(1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the charge sheet, on Monday, March 3, 2025, at No. 3 Kamara Drive, Milton Margai College Road, Freetown, the pair allegedly broke into the home of Amina Mans and stole 4,000 New Leones in cash, her property.
On the same date and location, they are also accused of breaking into the residence of Sarika Kamara and stealing an engagement gold and diamond ring valued at 1,000 United States dollars (equivalent to 24,000 Leones), an Apple AirPods Pro worth 200 United States dollars (4,880 Leones), a large tin of Vaseline valued at 500 New Leones, an HP computer worth 5,000 New Leones, a 1TB hard drive valued at 2,440 Leones, and other assorted items totaling 39,870 Leones, all belonging to Sarika Kamara.
When the charges were read, no pleas were taken, inspector M. Bangura led the prosecution’s first witness, Amina Mans, a businesswoman who identified the accused in the dock and noted that Milford King is her son’s friend. She recounted the events of March 3, 2025, explaining that she was at her shop when her daughter, Marissa Mans, called with troubling news, upon returning home, Amina discovered extensive damage, the veranda ceiling, dining room ceiling, her daughter’s room ceiling, and her own bedroom ceiling were all severely compromised, the kitchen door was broken, and her bedroom door stood ajar.
Inside her room, Amina found her bed in disarray, a church bag containing 3,000 New Leones was missing, though the bag itself remained on the bed alongside a church tithe card, a box where she kept an additional 1,000 New Leones had been pried open, the money gone, amid the chaos, she noticed an unfamiliar shirt on her bed. She summoned her daughter to contact her son’s friend, George, who arrived and recognized the shirt. George took it to Milford King’s house, where Milford’s father confirmed it belonged to his son.
Amina testified that George arrested Milford and brought him to the scene. She then left for Adonkia Police Station, reported the incident, and returned with an officer who arrested Milford and took him into custody. She later provided a statement to the police.
The defense counsel, unnamed in the proceedings, applied for bail. Magistrate Kekura granted bail to Milford King in the sum of 100 Leones with one surety, requiring the surety to reside within the court’s jurisdiction and provide a valid identity card. Bail was denied for Nyakeh Lahai Kallon, the matter was adjourned to April 1, 2025.