Police Arrest SLBC Camera Operator Over Alleged Theft of Broadcasting Equipment

The Sierra Leone Police have detained Osman Daramy Kamara, a camera operator at the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC), in connection with the alleged theft of the broadcaster’s equipment.

The arrest was announced during a police press briefing on Thursday, 8 January 2026, at the Police Officers’ Mess in Freetown.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alieu Jalloh, Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), said SLBC reported a case of office breaking and larceny involving Kamara, a full-time staff member. Several items reportedly went missing from SLBC studios and offices, prompting an investigation.

ACP Jalloh noted that CCTV footage played a key role in tracking the suspect, who allegedly gained unauthorized access to the office building through the ceiling. Preliminary investigations indicate Kamara has confessed to the thefts, including the removal of a plasma television, which he claimed to have sold in the Mount Aureol area of Freetown.

The SLBC management is compiling a comprehensive inventory of all missing assets to determine the full extent of the loss. ACP Jalloh confirmed that the suspect remains in custody, and the investigation is ongoing. Formal charges are expected once all evidence has been consolidated.