By: Audrey Raymonda John
Forty-nine-year-old Samuel Lamin Koroma, a cleaner and security guard, made another appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on a charge of larceny by servant, contrary to Section 17(1)(a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at Pictures and Memories Investment, located at 126 Circular Road, Western Area, Freetown, Koroma, while employed as a clerk by the company, allegedly stole various items, including one big Canon lens (70-200mm), two 256MB memory cards, three 128GB memory cards, one Duracell battery charging case, four Canon battery chargers, and other assorted items. The total value of the stolen property amounted to 575,001 Leones, all belonging to Pictures and Memories Investment.
When the charge was read and explained to the defendant, no plea was taken.
The defendant’s counsel, A.B. Marrah, informed the court that he wished to cross-examine Sandra Beury, a key witness, at the next adjourned date. Under the new Criminal Procedure Act 2024, the complainant, the defendant, and the witnesses have already taken oaths at the police station, leaving it to the defence counsel to call his own witnesses. Marrah also applied for bail on behalf of the defendant, citing Section 76(1)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act of 2024, and stated that Koroma had reliable sureties willing to stand in recognisance for him.
However, Magistrate Fornah denied bail, citing the seriousness of the charge and the potential risk to prosecution witnesses. As a result, Koroma was remanded to the male correctional facility in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to November 3, 2025.