Witness Testifies in Airport Luggage Theft Case Involving Sky Handling Staff

A prosecution witness on Thursday testified before Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown in the ongoing trial of Emmanuel John Bundu, a staff member of Sky Handling at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi, who is accused of stealing items from passenger luggage.

The witness, John Umaru, an exhibit clerk attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU), told the court about how key exhibits connected to the case were received, recorded, and preserved in police custody.

According to Umaru, on October 20, 2025, he received an old Itel manual mobile phone, a silver wristwatch, and a gold wristwatch from Police Officer Amara S. He said the items were properly entered into the court’s exhibit book under serial number 134/2024 and have since remained in police custody.

Prosecutors allege that on September 7, 2025, at the Freetown International Airport in Lungi, Bundu unlawfully stole a mobile phone and two wristwatches from a passenger’s luggage onboard an aircraft.

The second count further accuses him of being found in possession of the said items, which are reasonably suspected to have been stolen.

Bundu has pleaded not guilty to two counts of larceny, contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916, and unlawful possession, contrary to Section 13(1) of the Summary Conviction Act, as amended.

In concluding its presentation, the prosecution emphasized the relevance of the evidence and exhibits tendered before the court. Meanwhile, counsel for the defence informed the court that a no-case submission would be filed at the next adjournment.

Presiding Magistrate John Manso Fornah adjourned the matter to January 27, 2026, while the accused remains on bail.