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In a gripping day of testimony at Pademba Road Court No. 2, the third prosecution witness, Albert Moikpwendor, took the stand before Magistrate Santigie Bangura.
Moikpwendor, a businessman with extensive experience in mining, provided crucial evidence in the case involving three defendants accused of embezzling a diamond weighing over 200 carats.
According to Moikpwendor, he is well-acquainted with the complainant, Benjamin Merer, who had issued the mining license for the land where the diamond was discovered. Moikpwendor identified the first accused, Sheku Kabba, as Mr. Benjamin’s manager, and the second accused, Tamba Lebbie, as the land manager at the site.
Moikpwendor testified that he received information about the diamond and the accused on 28 May 2024. He initially went to the Motehma Kono police station but learned that the accused had been transferred to Freetown. Moikpwendor then followed up in Freetown, where he encountered Kabba and Lebbie at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Both were released on bail after two days.
The witness recounted a subsequent visit to the residence of Kabba at Government Wharf, where Kabba requested Moikpwendor’s assistance. Moikpwendor agreed and contacted his brother, the Deputy Minister of Sport. During a meeting at his brother’s residence, Kabba asked for public support in claiming that the diamond’s land was provided by family members rather than Mr. Benjamin. Kabba admitted to possessing the diamond but claimed it was in the possession of the third accused, Jehad Basma, whose brother had gone to Kono to retrieve it.
Moikpwendor, along with his sister and brother, visited the CID the following day to provide statements. However, the situation took a turn when Kabba accused them of compromising with Mr. Benjamin and declared he could no longer cooperate.
Defense counsel Jessie Jengo conducted a cross-examination of Moikpwendor, probing the details of his testimony. The accused—Sheku Kabba, Tamba Lebbie, and Jehad Basma—remain in custody as the case proceeds.
The defendants face serious charges, including conspiracy, embezzlement under section 17(1)(b) of the Larceny Act of 1916, and receiving stolen goods under section 33(1)(a) of the same act. The prosecution alleges that the accused conspired to embezzle a diamond valued at $42,240,000 USD (1,003,200,000 Leones) from Benjamin Merer between 20 and 26 May 2024 in Moryonfeh village, Kono District. Jehad Basma is also accused of knowingly receiving the stolen diamond.
The court will reconvene on Monday, 16 September 2024, to continue proceedings.
