By: Audrey Raymonda John
Forty-nine-year-old Samuel Lamin Koroma, a cleaner and security personnel, made another appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on one count of Larceny by Servant, contrary to Section 17(1)(a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, on Thursday, 18th September 2025, at Pictures and Memories Investment, located at 126 Circular Road, Western Area, Freetown, the accused being a clerk employed by the said establishment allegedly stole from the premises one Canon 70–200mm lens, two 256GB memory cards, three 128GB memory cards, one Duracell battery charging case, four Canon battery chargers, and other assorted items, all valued at Five Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand and One Leones (Le575,001), property of Pictures and Memories Investment.
When the charge was read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isatu Baba Musa led Prosecution Witness No. 1, Sandra Beury, in cross-examination by A.B. Marrah Esq.
The witness, Sandra Beury, testified that she recognized the accused as a friend of her elder brother. She explained that she had worked with the accused for a few months, during which he served as the studio manager. The business, she said, was established by her elder brother, Emerick, who resides in the United States of America.
Beury stated that she stopped working at the studio in January 2024 when she went on maternity leave, but the accused continued working with her brother. She added that during her time managing the office, the accused had never stolen anything.
She explained that although she became less active in the business due to her maternity leave, she was the one who reported the accused to the police in the absence of the company’s CEO. According to her, the company operates under established rules, and she is authorized to represent it in court.
The witness further testified that the office is equipped with CCTV cameras, and the footage is currently in police custody. She said the camera installed in the manager’s office where the alleged theft took place had been switched off, while the other cameras in the premises remained operational.
Beury asserted that the accused was in possession of the keys to both the manager’s office and the cupboard where the stolen items were kept, and that he was also responsible for controlling the CCTV system. However, she admitted that she did not personally see the accused with any of the stolen items.
Defence Counsel A.B. Marrah Esq. renewed and adopted his previous bail application on behalf of the accused.
However, Magistrate Fornah refused bail, citing the seriousness of the offence, and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to 10th November 2025.