In a significant development on Monday, September 9, 2024, Samuel Marrah, the Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Trading Company, delivered crucial testimony in the ongoing case involving two Lebanese nationals, Hussein Antar and Jamal Antar, alongside a Sierra Leonean, Suliaman Barrie.

The trio stands accused of importing bomb-making materials into Sierra Leone through Water Quay without proper authorization.

Marrah, while being led in evidence by State Counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay, provided insight into his involvement with the accused, stating that his company, Infinity Trading Limited, deals with industrial equipment and is based on Wilkinson Road.

He identified the first accused, Hussein Antar, from an encounter at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), while acknowledging that the second accused, Jamal Antar, lived near their office on Smart Farm, Wilkinson Road. He also confirmed his familiarity with the third accused, Suliaman Barrie.

During his testimony, Marrah recalled that between October 2023 and July 2024, Hussein Antar approached him for assistance in shipping several containers. Antar requested to use Infinity Trading’s name to facilitate the clearance of the containers through Water Quay.

Marrah introduced Antar to Ibrahim Bashir Kamara, a contact at the Quay, to assist with the process.

The witness further explained that Hussein Antar raised NLe270,000 for the initial stages of the clearance, with an additional NLe30,000 being handed over through Suliaman Barrie.

These payments were used to facilitate the release and transport of the containers to 3 Mile, where the suspicious materials were later discovered.

Marrah’s testimony provided pivotal details surrounding the alleged illegal importation, as the containers were cleared through Sierra Leone’s main port, Water Quay, raising serious concerns about the unchecked entry of bomb-making materials into the country.

Defense counsel representing the accused, Kamara Esq. for the first and second accused, and D. Koroma for the third accused, requested time to cross-examine the witness. Magistrate Santigie Bangura granted the adjournment, with the case set to continue on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.

The accused face an array of charges, including conspiracy, illegal importation of arms-manufacturing materials, and obstructing justice. They remain in custody as the court proceedings continue.