By SKS
In a startling revelation, three Sea Coach staff members were arraigned before a Freetown magistrate charged with conspiracy to defraud and the embezzlement of dozens of tickets valued at over 73,000 Leones.
The employees of Sea Coach, Sheku Jimmy, a 40-year-old supervisor and language officer; Hassan Kamara, a 38-year-old cashier; and Mohamed Kamara, a 41-year-old cashier, appeared before Magistrate Mary Julian Gbloh at Pademba Road Court No. 5 in Freetown.
They face two charges: conspiracy to defraud, contrary to the law, and embezzlement, contrary to Section 17(1)(b) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, the accused persons conspired between February 12 and April 1, 2025, at Lungi International Airport, in the Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom, Port Loko Judicial District, North West Region, Freetown.
The charge alleges that they colluded with unknown persons with the intent to defraud.
Count two states that on the same date and location, the accused fraudulently embezzled sixty-three Sea Coach tickets, each costing $45, totaling approximately 73,710 Leones, received without authorization from Sea Coach Express management.
When the charges were read and explained, the accused persons did not enter a plea.
Sergeant 5598 Santigie Koroma led the prosecution. The second witness, Micah Tanimu, a technician and operations manager at Sea Coach, recognized all three accused individuals, who are employed at the Sea Coach Airport branch. He recalled that on March 26, 2025, he was on duty at the head office on Sir Samuel Lewis Road, Aberdeen. He recounted an incident involving transfers of tickets between himself and the accused persons.
After closing work at around 9:10 p.m., he received a phone call from Abdul Sankoh, an IT officer, reporting an issue with some tickets. Sankoh said he would meet him the following morning.
The next day, on March 27, 2025, they discussed the matter and began a preliminary investigation to track the tickets. They discovered that ten tickets had been used, all issued by Mohamed Kamara, the third accused. Further investigation through their system revealed that the tickets were in possession of Mohamed Kamara on his phone.
When questioned about how he obtained the tickets, Mohamed Kamara initially claimed they were sent by the first accused, Sheku Jimmy. During the investigation at Lungi, the first accused arrived and confirmed that Mohamed Kamara told him the tickets were sent by the second accused.
The second accused then confirmed that he had sent the tickets to Mohamed Kamara and that he received them from the first accused.
The first accused admitted to obtaining the tickets from Mr. Bangura, a customer.
Regarding the sale of tickets, Mohamed Kamara stated he handed over $450 to the second accused, who then transferred the money via Orange Money to the first accused.
The first accused confirmed receiving the money and forwarding it to Mr. Bangura. Evidence of this transaction was recorded at the business centre, where the transaction was recognized by the attendant and photographic evidence was taken.
The prosecution requested a short adjournment to print and tender the transaction evidence. Magistrate Gbloh adjourned the case to July 1, 2025, for further proceedings, including bail consideration for all accused persons.
