By: Audrey Raymonda John
Fifty-six-year-old businessman Mohamed Ansumana Dabeneh has been remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown by Magistrate Mustapha Brima Jah of Pademba Road Court No. 1 on one count of larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Youyi Building, Brookfields, Western Area, Freetown, the accused allegedly stole a black crossbody bag belonging to Hossam Magdy.
The bag was said to have contained US$20,000, equivalent to NLe474, 000, NLe4, 800, a pair of AirPods valued at NLe8,000, and a bottle of perfume valued at NLe500, with the total value stated as NLe487, 300.
When the charge was read and explained to him, Dabeneh pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Juan M. S. Bull, called its first witness, Hossam Magdy.
Testifying before the court, Magdy said he knew the accused and recalled an incident involving him on August 12, 2026. He told the court that he had an appointment at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning at Youyi Building and was waiting on the third floor for the minister.
Magdy said he had his bag with him, which contained US$20,000 and an AirPod. He further testified that he left the bag in the waiting room while he went into the minister’s office.
The prosecution subsequently applied for a short adjournment.
Magistrate Jah refused bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offence, and adjourned the matter to September 18, 2026.
.