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A life-saving Vivid iQ Ultra Edition echocardiography machine – one of only two such devices in Sierra Leone – has been stolen, with two businessmen now facing court over its disappearance.
Abdul Jabba Mansaray and Joseph Bellon made another appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 on five count charges ranging from conspiracy, larceny, obtaining money by false pretences, and receiving stolen goods, contrary to the Larceny Act 1916.
The highly sophisticated, password-protected machine – valued at $37,100 USD – can only be operated by a trained cardiologist and is useless to anyone else. The theft has sent shockwaves through the country’s fragile healthcare system, where the device is critical for performing heart diagnostic tests.
According to the charge sheet, the first defendant, Abdul Jabba Mansaray, on 13th January 2026 at No. 3 Bathurst Street, Freetown – the address of Prime Clinic – conspired with others unknown to commit larceny.
The same count alleges that Mansaray stole the Vivid iQ Echo Machine, property of Professor Dr. James Russell.
Counts three and four further allege that Mansaray, on 28th and 29th January 2026, with intent to defraud through Orange Money, obtained sums of Le2,500 from Fatmata Jullet Nicolls and Le1,015 from George Russell under the pretext that he would use the money as transport to produce the stolen machine – knowing the same to be false.
Count five alleges that the second defendant, Joseph Bellon, between 13th and 28th January 2026, at Kossoh Town, Freetown, received the stolen machine from Mansaray, knowing it to be stolen property belonging to Professor Dr. James Russell.
Testifying before the court, Prosecution Witness One, Fatmata Jullet Nicolls – a nurse attached to Prime Care Medical Clinic – said she recognised the complainant as her boss and both defendants.
She recalled that on 13th January 2026, the complainant used the machine to scan patients’ hearts before leaving the clinic and going home. Later, she received a call from her boss informing her that the machine had gone missing.
The nurse said they initially advised him to post about the missing item on social media, which he refused at first but later agreed to do on 28th January 2026.
Dr. Russell later forwarded a telephone number to her, informing her that the person who owned the number claimed he had the machine and said he bought it on the street. When she called, the person confirmed he had contacted Dr. Russell and stated he was attending a workshop in Kono District with the machine.
The unknown caller later sent a photograph of the machine for confirmation. The photograph was printed and tendered in court as Exhibit A1–A26.
The witness further testified that the caller requested transport money to travel to Kenema to take additional photographs. She sent Le1,000 to him, which he confirmed receiving, and the following day he sent another photograph of the machine together with its bag.
Defence counsel A.B. Sesay applied for bail on behalf of both defendants, arguing they are Sierra Leoneans with reliable sureties and would not interfere with prosecution witnesses.
Magistrate John Manso Fornah refused bail to both defendants due to the seriousness of the offences. The matter was adjourned to 28th April 2026 for continuation of hearing.
A public appeal had previously been launched in January for the recovery of the missing machine, with Prime Clinic offering a “handsome reward” for any information leading to its return. Stakeholders had indicated that the priority is saving lives, and the return would be handled with a “no questions asked” policy.
The public continues to be urged to share information to help restore vital cardiac diagnostic services to patients in desperate need. Anyone with information can contact Prime Clinic at 3 Bathurst Street, Freetown, or call +232 99 749 152.
