Court Remands Businessman Accused of Stealing $10,000 from Parliament

A 37-year-old businessman, Ibrahim Sorie Koroma, has appeared before the Pademba Road Court No.1 in Freetown after being accused of stealing a bag containing $10,000 and other valuables from the premises of the House of Parliament.

Koroma made his first appearance on Tuesday, 17th February 2026, before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah on a charge of larceny.

According to the particulars of the offence, the accused allegedly committed the crime on September 8, 2025, at the House of Parliament in the Western Area of Freetown. Prosecutors allege that he stole a black leather bag containing ten thousand United States Dollars, four thousand and sixty Leones in cash, a Watts power bank, a Samsung mobile phone, and other assorted items. The total value of the stolen property is estimated at 260,560 Leones. The items reportedly belong to John Melvin Kuminah.

When the charge was read and explained to the accused, no plea was taken as the matter is currently at the preliminary investigation stage.

Testifying in court, Sub-Inspector Mohamed Vandi of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Pademba Road said he recognized both the complainant and the accused. He told the court that on September 9, 2025, the matter was assigned to him for investigation. He obtained statements from the complainant and other witnesses.

He further testified that on the same day, he, along with DPC 10256 Bangura A.S. and the complainant, visited the crime scene at Parliament, where CCTV footage was retrieved and handed over to the cyber unit for analysis.

The prosecution witness stated that on September 13, 2025, the accused was arrested in possession of the stolen bag and purse. He said the investigating team obtained a voluntary caution statement from the accused in Krio, which was subsequently recorded in English. The statement was read over and explained to the accused, who confirmed its accuracy by affixing his thumbprint. Both the accused and the investigator signed the document.

Sub-Inspector Vandi also informed the court that on December 21, 2025, he and DPC Bangura obtained a charge statement from the accused following the same procedure. The statement was tendered and admitted into evidence as an exhibit.

The witness was cross-examined by defence counsel following his testimony.

Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah refused bail and ordered that the accused be remanded at the male correctional facility in Freetown. The matter has been adjourned to February 24, 2026, for further hearing.