By: Audrey Raymonda John
Four individuals Umar Baimba Kamara, Joseph Kabia (alias Manager), Alhaji Moseray Kabba, and Momoh Kamara made their second appearance before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah at Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown on charges related to counterfeit money and illegal firearm possession.
The four defendants face a 17-count charge, including Conspiracy to Defraud, Conspiracy to Commit Felony, Possession of Forged Bank Notes, Counterfeiting of Bank Notes, and Forging of Bank Notes under Section 2(1)(c) of the Forgery Act of 1913. They are also charged with Possession and Custody of Arms Without a License, contrary to Section 22(1) of the Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition Act 2023 (Act No. 24 of 2023).
According to the indictment, between 15th and 19th July 2025, the first, second, and third defendants Umar Baimba Kamara, Joseph Kabia, and Momoh Kamaraallegedly conspired to obtain goods by false pretenses. It is further alleged that in October 2024, all four defendants conspired to forge Sierra Leonean banknotes.
The prosecution claims that on 19th July 2025, at Wellington, Freetown, Alhaji Moseray Kabba counterfeit 250 fake twenty-Leone notes that were purportedly printed by the Bank of Sierra Leone. Two days later, on 21st July 2025, Joseph Kabia was allegedly found in possession of the same counterfeit notes at Rokupa, Wellington.
Additionally, it is claimed that Umar Baimba Kamara, on the same dates at Red Pump, Tengebeh Town, was involved in printing the counterfeit notes. He was also allegedly found in possession of a Glock 22 pistol, two magazines, and forty-four live rounds without lawful authority.
The prosecution’s case was led by Sergeant 9939 Mohamed Lahai, who called Inspector Lahai Bangura, an operations officer attached to the Kissy Division, to testify. Inspector Bangura explained that while on duty on 15th July 2025, he received a call from the Officer in Charge (OC) at the Wellington Police Post requesting reinforcements at Rokupa. Upon arrival, with a search warrant in hand, they entered a house where the defendants were allegedly hiding. There, they discovered counterfeit twenty-Leone notes and a printing machine (blower) used to create the fake currency.
After their arrest, the second defendant, Joseph Kabia, allegedly led the police to his boss at Tengebeh Town, where they discovered additional counterfeit notes, three laptop computers, and the firearm with live rounds.
During cross-examination, the defendants challenged parts of the witness’s testimony, but Inspector Lahai Bangura maintained that his account was accurate and truthful.
Considering the gravity of the charges, Magistrate Jah remanded all four defendants to the Male Correctional Centre. The matter has been adjourned to 24th October 2025 for further hearings.