By Elizabeth Kamara
Samuel Benjamin Moiba and Alfred Karim Koroma, both sailors, appeared before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown on charges of conspiracy and larceny, contrary to the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the prosecution, on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Sir Samuel Lewis Road in Aberdeen, Freetown, the accused, along with others unknown, allegedly conspired to commit larceny.
On the same date and location, they reportedly stole a black suitcase, a grey Dell laptop, a black Samsung A23 mobile phone, a set of stethoscopes, and other assorted items valued at one hundred and twenty-four thousand eight hundred Leones (NLe 124,800), belonging to Dr. Sherif Emil.
The stolen items were under the custody of Seacoach Express management at the time of the incident.
When the charges were read and explained, the accused did not enter a plea.
The prosecution, led by Inspector Kadie M. Taylor, presented its first witness, Micah Tanimu, the General Manager and technician at Seacoach Express.
Tanimu testified that he knows both accused individuals in their capacity as sailors. Recounting the events of February 9, 2025, he stated that at around 10:00 p.m., he received a call from the Mercy Ship coordinator regarding missing luggage. He assured the coordinator that he would investigate the matter.
Upon arriving at the Seacoach office, Tanimu reviewed CCTV footage, which showed the first accused moving three bags from the terminal to the car park. When confronted, the accused initially denied involvement. However, after being taken to the CCTV room and shown the footage, he admitted to being the person in the video and identified the second accused as someone with knowledge of the missing bag.
The second accused was subsequently called in and handed over to the police.
The CCTV footage was transferred to a memory stick, produced in court, and tendered as evidence, marked as Exhibit A. Tanimu later provided a statement to the police.
Defense counsel S. Smart cross-examined the witness and renewed a previous bail application on behalf of the accused. However, Magistrate Kekura denied bail due to the seriousness of the charges and remanded both accused persons to the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to April 11, 2025.
