Businesswoman Testifies in NLe574,340 Theft Trial

Businesswoman Testifies in NLe574,340 Theft Trial

The trial of seven individuals accused of orchestrating a large-scale theft of construction materials reached a critical juncture on Tuesday, as complainant and businesswoman Mariama Kamara took the stand at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 2.

The case, presided over by Magistrate John Manso Fornah, involves allegations of conspiracy, larceny, and receiving stolen goods related to property in Kaningo, Lumley. The prosecution alleges that the accused — Samuel Mansaray, Charles Mansaray, Solomon Augustine Bangura, John Conteh, Abdulai Sankoh, Ibrahim Sesay, and Alhassan Sankoh — conspired to steal construction supplies valued at NLe574,340.

During her testimony, Ms. Kamara provided a detailed account of the events that led to the discovery of the theft. She identified the first accused, Samuel Mansaray, as her former caretaker, whom she had employed in 2024. Ms. Kamara recounted growing suspicion after Samuel introduced a friend, Ibrahim Kamara, to the construction site.

According to her testimony, the situation escalated in late January 2026, when she arrived at the property to find the lock tampered with and the key broken inside. Upon gaining entry, she discovered the disappearance of several high-value items, including approximately ten rolls of electrical cables, buckets of paint, toilet seats, an electric cooker, and lighting fixtures.

Ms. Kamara testified that when she questioned the third accused, Ibrahim Sesay, regarding the absence of the materials and the whereabouts of the first accused, he claimed the cables remained intact and that he did not know where Samuel was.

Following a report to the police, investigators launched a recovery operation. Ms. Kamara told the court that officers successfully retrieved several stolen items, including six gallons of paint and electrical cables marked with her identification. She further testified that Ibrahim Sesay led investigators to various shops and markets in Lumley where some of the stolen goods had been offloaded.

The testimony concluded with Ms. Kamara confirmed that the first accused had acknowledged the recovered property as belonging to her during police proceedings.

The court has adjourned the matter to July 22, 2026, for further hearings.