Director of Professional Standards, Sierra Leone Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Brima Jah, has testified against his junior, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Samuel Saio Kanu in a preliminary Investigation into a forty thousand united state dollars theft allegation.

Led in evidence by prosecuting Counsel Lawyer Sulaiman Banja Tejan Sie, AIG Brima Jah, recognized the accused person whom he identified as the Officer Commanding the Special Investigation Bureau. He told the Court that he was given an information, and upon receipt of the information, he instructed the accused person to organize a team and meet him in his office at Police Headquarters which he did.

AIG said he later led a team to Sierra Pam Hotel at Lumley Beach. He indicated that the accused person was part of the team, including a few police officers. “At the Hotel, I asked the Indians whether they were in possession of the sum of at least $10,000 USD which is the legitimate sum for them to possess, but they responded that they only had $150 United States Dollars,” he said.

He furthered that at that point, he instructed the accused to conduct a thorough search, which he did. He disclosed that he went with a search warrant which he said gave them the authority to search their premise. “After concluding the search, the sum of $160,000 United States Dollars, five gold bars testing and melting machines of gold were discovered,” he revealed.

The said items, according to AIG Jah were all recorded, while the accused and other police officers signed the search warrant. He said a certificate was made on the refusal of the two Indians and the Senegalese who failed to sign the search war rant. He added that the said items, the suspects, and other police officers, including the accused returned to Police Headquarters.

Upon arrival, AIG Brima Jah said he led the team together with the items to the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Ambrose Michael Sovula and briefed him about the operation. He continued that IG Sovula told him to brief him at the end of the investigation, while the accused was told to hand over the sum money as exhibit to Superintendent Johny Walker attached to the Police Finance at Police Headquarters for safe keeping and for him to take the suspects to Central Police Station for further investigation. He said on the 24th of July nothing was heard from the accused. “On the 25th of the same month, I became concerned and I called him on his mobile phone. I told him I will not like the IG to ask me in respect of the matter, adding that he should come and brief me, but he responded that he was onboard a vehicle to the provinces. I drew his attention to the police routine duties which required him in the said circumstances to apply for leave and will only leave after being granted,” he explained.

He further explained to the Court that the accused ignored it and told him that he will be back the following day. “On the following day, I reached him around midday and he informed me that he was in Makeni. I told him I was expecting him in three hours’ time, but he did not turn up even when I called him till 8pm,” he further revealed.

“On the 26th July, the accused person told me that $40,000 dollars had been stolen from the sum by a police officer called Caesar Foday Bangura. “I heard the voice of the IG, and called him into my office, and the accused repeat the same thing. I reminded him at that point that he was entrusted the sum of $160,000 USD, five gold Bass, testing and melting machines for safe keeping with Superintendent Johny Walker at the Finance Department of Police Headquarters,” he told the Court.

He enquired as to how the sum of money got missing, so he checked with Johny Walker at the Finance Department, where he was told that they had asked him to record the serial numbers of the sum on pieces of papers in their office, but the accused opted to do so in his office, at Central Police Station. He said the accused left with a statement that he was going in search of Caesar whom he alleged stole the sum. On the 12th August 2020, AIG Brima Jah said he made report at the Independent Police Complaint Board. He revealed that the accused failed to produce the original search warrant which was in his possession, adding that the accused is yet to bring the $40,000 USD which he said was stolen.

Magistrate Sahr Kekura advice that cross-examination be deferred because the Court was full bearing in mind the spate of covid-19.

Defense counsel, lawyer MN Kamara requested that the witness bring along the search warrant, but the witness reiterated that the said warrant was in the possession of the accused who failed to hand it over.

Magistrate Sahr Kekura adjourned the matter to the 14th July 2021, while the accused is on bail. ASP Mansaray is prosecuting the matter.