By: Audrey Raymonda John
Fifty-five-year-old businessman Mohamed Ansumana Dabeneh has been remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown after appearing before Magistrate Jah on five counts relating to the alleged unlawful possession, custody and control of arms and ammunition.
Dabeneh is facing two counts of possession of arms without a licence, two counts of custody of arms without a licence, and one count of control of ammunition without a licence, contrary to Section 22(1) of the Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition Act, 2023 (Act No. 24 of 2023).
According to the particulars of the alleged offences, on Friday, 14 August 2026, at No. 1 Kaikai Drive, Jui, in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused was allegedly found in possession of arms without lawful authority.
Count Two alleged that, on the same date and at the same location, Dabeneh was found in possession of ammunition without lawful authority.
Count Three stated that he was allegedly found in custody of arms without lawful authority, while Count Four alleged that he was found in custody of ammunition without lawful authority.
Count Five further alleged that the accused was found in control of ammunition without lawful authority.
When the charges were read and explained to him in court, Dabeneh pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
The prosecution, led by Inspector Kadie M. Taylor, informed the court that she had served the defence counsel with copies of the case file and inquiry file.
Defence counsel I. Fofanah, Esq., acknowledged receipt of the documents and applied for bail on behalf of the accused pursuant to Section 76(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act, 2024.
Counsel argued that Dabeneh was not a flight risk and would not interfere with prosecution witnesses. He also submitted that the accused had reliable sureties who were willing to enter into recognizance on his behalf.
However, Magistrate Jah refused bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged offences.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to 9 September 2026 for further proceedings, while Dabeneh remains in custody at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown.