By Fatima Kpaka
Jehad Basma a British National and two others have on Wednesday 7th August 2024 appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No.2 in the case of a 75 carats diamond believed to have been stolen.
The accused persons, Sheku Kobba, Tamba Lebbie and Jehad Basma were arraigned for the crimes of Conspiracy, Embezzlement, Larceny and Receiving stolen good.
The Sheku Kobba and Tamba Lebbie, the first and second accused persons in this matter, are believed to have conspired and committed the act of embezzlement on a date unknown between 20th and 26th May 2024, at Woryonteh Village, kamara Chiefdom, in Kono District, Eastern Sierra Leone.
Sheku Kobba and Tamba Lebbie, the second and third accused persons, on the second count, on the same date and place are believed to have fraudulently embezzled the 75-carat gem which is the property of one Benjamin Meter.
It was alleged on the third charge that Jehad Basma on the same date and place received the diamond knowing that it had been stolen.
When the matter was mentioned in court, State Prosecutor Yusif Isaac Sesay Esq. requested for it to be adjourned so that he could properly confer with prosecution witnesses, and in order to proffer proper charges against the three accused persons.
Lead defense counsel Jessie M. Jengo Esq. made applied for the accused persons to be admitted to bail pursuant to section 79 (2) (3) of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
He further presented a medical report in respect of Jehad Basma stating that he was unwell, and added that he resides within the jurisdiction and had reliable sureties who were willing and ready to go into his recognizance.
He furthered that Basma would not interfere with prosecution witnesses nor will he jump bail.
Magistrate Bangura having listened to the application admitted the accused persons to bail in the sum of one billion Leones each with two sureties in like sum, and the sureties must be resident within the Western Area and that they must be a business or company owners with a capital not less than the sum specified in the bail condition, and bank statement signed and stamped by their respective banking institutions.
He added that each of the sureties must be a property owner within the Western Area and must submit their title deeds together with utility bills especially city rates, electricity bills and water bills.
The Magistrate ruled that the bail is to be approved by the Master and Registrar of the High Court of Sierra Leone.
The matter was adjourned to the 14th of August 2024 for further hearing.