By Janet A. Sesay
Ibrahim Sorie Dumbuya, a fisherman, on Monday, 26th January, 2026 made his first appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on allegation of entering into a store at Cape Sierra Hotel in Aberdeen in Freetown and stealing assorted items that have been valued over Twenty Thousand Leones. The defendant is charged with one count of store-breaking and larceny contrary to Section 26(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the indictment, the defendant on Monday, 29th December, 2025 at the Cape Sierra Hotel in Aberdeen in Freetown, unlawfully broke into the store of Shashi Prakash Singh the Managing Director of Cape Sierra Hotel with intent to steal.
The indictment further states that the defendant stole three mattresses each valued at Le 1,000 totaling Le3,000, three electric fans each valued at Le300 amounting to Le900; twelve concrete metal curb frames each valued at Le2,000 amounting to Le24,000; and two metal beds valued at Le1,000 each, amounting to Le2,000, all totaling Le 29,900 (Twenty-nine Thousand, Nine Hundred Leones) being properties of Shashi Prakash Singh while in his custody at the Cape Sierra Hotel.
During proceedings, Magistrate Fornah asked the defendant to explain what happened and he started his narration by introducing himself as a fisherman based in the Republic of Guinea and that he was in Sierra Leone on holidays with his boss. He explained that he was allegedly misled by a friend who asked him to escort him to a hotel, claiming that he worked there, adding that he did not know his friend intended to steal from the said hotel store.
The defendant further explained that after escorting his friend to the hotel, he stood by the door while his friend handed items to him to place them outside the gate of the building.
He said whiles he was putting the items outside, he was apprehended and his friend allegedly jumped through a window and escaped. He added that he has not seen his friend since the incident, and also that he has no relatives in Sierra Leone, and that the boss with whom he to the country has since returned to Guinea.
The matter is being prosecuted by Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP Sorie Conteh.
The witness was absent in court and the matter was adjourned to 2nd February, 2026 for further proceedings.