By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two business tycoons, Abdul Kanu and Mohammed Abu Turay, appeared before Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah at Pademba Road Court No.1 on Friday, 25 October 2025, to answer charges of exposing the travel manifest of President Julius Maada Bio and his entourage during their trip to the United Kingdom. This marks their second appearance in court.
The two defendants face two counts of wrongful communication of documents, contrary to Section 7(I)(a) of the Treason and State Act of 1963, as amended. The indictment alleges that Abdul Kanu, between 20 and 30 August 2025 in Freetown, was in possession of the travel manifest of President Bio and his entourage to the UK and wrongfully communicated it to Mohammed Abu Turay. Similarly, the indictment states that Turay, on the same date, was in possession of the manifest and shared it with others in Dubai.
Detective Police Sergeant 17754 Abass Koroma, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), testified in the case. He confirmed recognizing both defendants and recalled the investigation process. According to Sergeant Koroma, the matter was reported on 29 August 2025, and he was assigned to investigate an alleged case of subversion. He stated that on the same day, Turay was arrested and brought to the station by Inspector F. J. Moza.
During questioning, Turay admitted to receiving the travel manifest via WhatsApp from Abdul Kanu. Following this admission, Kanu was arrested for further questioning. Koroma added that both defendants were cautioned and questioned in accordance with the judges’ rules, with both providing statements that were later marked as Exhibits A1-10 and B1-7.
Sergeant Koroma further testified that a request was sent to the Cyber Unit on 2 September 2025 to analyze three Samsung mobile phones—one belonging to Kanu (Galaxy S23) and two to Turay (Galaxy S24 Ultra and Galaxy A05). The analysis report from the Cyber Unit was also tendered in court as part of the prosecution’s case.
On 17 September 2025, both defendants were formally charged with the offense of wrongful communication of documents, and their charged statements were submitted to the court.
During cross-examination by defense counsel J. Wales, Koroma acknowledged that Turay had stated he received the travel manifest through a WhatsApp group called the “Loyalist WhatsApp group,” but he did not investigate the group further. When asked whether the defendants were the first to share the manifest, Koroma admitted he could not confirm that detail. He also clarified that statements had been obtained from Patrick Sorie Kamara, the Managing Director of Civil Aviation, as he was the one who initially reported the matter.
Koroma was also questioned about whether Patrick Kamara was the only person who could handle and decode the president’s travel manifest, but he stated that he was not aware of this.
The police witness reiterated that the defendants had sent the manifest to the wrong places, constituting wrongful communication.
Defense counsel renewed the application for bail, emphasizing that both defendants had strong social ties within their communities and had been in custody for 54 days without bail. The defense argued that granting bail would not interfere with the ongoing trial, as the defendants would conduct themselves appropriately throughout the proceedings.
However, Magistrate Jah rejected the bail application, citing the seriousness of the offense. Both defendants were sent to the Male Correctional Facility.
The case is scheduled to continue on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, for further proceedings.