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A police investigator took the stand at the Pademba Road Court No.1 on Tuesday, testifying against a businessman accused of stealing $10,000 and other valuables from the House of Parliament.
Sub-Inspector Mohamed Vandi of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) presented evidence against 37-year-old Ibrahim Sorie Koroma, who faces charges of larceny for the alleged theft of a bag belonging to John Melvin Kuminah.
Testifying before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah, Sub-Inspector Vandi detailed the investigation process which began on September 9, 2025. He told the court that he visited the crime scene at the Parliament building alongside the complainant and fellow officer DPC 10256 Bangura A.S.
“We retrieved CCTV footage from the scene and handed it over to the cyber unit for analysis,” Vandi stated.
Crucially, the witness testified that the accused was arrested on September 13, 2025, allegedly in possession of the stolen black leather bag.
Vandi further explained the procedure for obtaining statements from the accused. He noted that a voluntary caution statement was taken in Krio and recorded in English. The accused reportedly confirmed the statement’s accuracy by affixing his thumbprint, witnessed by the investigator. A formal charge statement was subsequently obtained on December 21, 2025, and tendered into evidence.
Prosecutors claim that on September 8, 2025, Koroma took a bag from the Parliament premises in Freetown’s Western Area. Inside were $10,000 USD, 4,060 Leones in cash, a Samsung phone, and a Watts power bank. Altogether, the stolen property was valued at about 260,560 Leones.
Following the testimony and cross-examination by the defense counsel, Magistrate Jah refused the bail application. Ibrahim Sorie Koroma was remanded to the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown.
The matter has been adjourned to February 24, 2026, for further hearings.
