By: Lucinda J. Smith
On Monday, September 9, 2024, a new witness testified in the ongoing diamond embezzlement case at Court No. 2 in Freetown, presided over by Magistrate Santigie Bangura. The witness, Albert Moikpwendor, gave an account of his involvement in the case against three accused individuals.
Moikpwendor, a businessman with ten years of experience in mining, recognized the first accused, Sheku Kabba, as the manager of the complainant, Benjamin Merer, and the second accused, Tamba Lebbie, as the land manager at the site where the alleged diamond was found.
The witness recalled receiving information about the diamond and the accused on May 28, 2024, and subsequently went to the Police Station at Motehma Kono. He later met the first and second accused at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Freetown, where they were released on bail after two days.
Moikpwendor testified that he was asked by the accused to help them in their case and offered to contact his brother, the Deputy Minister of Sport. He claimed that the first accused, Kabba, admitted to having the diamond but stated it was not in his possession, rather with the third accused, Jehad Basma.
The witness was cross-examined by defense counsel, lawyer Jessie Jengo, on behalf of the accused. The case has been adjourned until Monday, September 16, 2024, and the accused have been remanded in custody.
The accused, Sheku Kabba, Tamba Lebbie, and Jehad Basma, face three counts of conspiracy, embezzlement, and receiving stolen goods. The state alleges that they conspired to embezzle a 264-carat diamond worth approximately $42 million, belonging to Benjamin Merer.
