By Alimatu Jalloh
Freetown, Sierra Leone – June 26, 2025: Three employees of Sea Coach Express have appeared before Magistrate Mary Julian Gbloh at the Pademba Road Magistrate Court No. 5, facing charges of conspiracy to defraud and embezzlement, following allegations of fraudulent resale of used ferry tickets.
Led in evidence by Sergeant 5598 Santigie Koroma, the prosecution presented its second witness, Micah Tanimu—a technician and operations manager with Sea Coach—who testified to uncovering irregularities surrounding 10 previously used Sea Coach tickets.
According to Tanimu, the issue came to light on March 26, 2025, when an IT officer Abdul Sankoh, raised concerns about suspicious transactions. Upon investigation the following day, Tanimu and Sankoh confirmed via the company’s system that the tickets in question had all been used and were traced back to one of the accused—Mohamed Kamara, a cashier and the third defendant.
Further inquiries allegedly revealed a chain of internal transfers: Kamara claimed to have received the tickets from Hassan Kamara, the second accused, who in turn said the tickets were sent by the first accused, Sheku Jimmy, a supervisor and language officer. Jimmy told investigators that the tickets had originated from a customer named “Mr. Bangura,” whose involvement is still under scrutiny.
The witness testified that one ticket bundle was sold for $450, with payments reportedly moving via mobile money from the third accused to the second, and eventually to the first, who stated he forwarded the funds to Mr. Bangura. Investigators later visited the business center where the transaction occurred, where a staff member reportedly confirmed the exchange, providing photographic evidence now tendered in court.
The accused—Jimmy (40), Hassan Kamara (38), and Mohamed Kamara (41)—are accused of conspiring between 12 February and 1 April 2025 at the Lungi International Airport terminal, within the Port Loko Judicial District, to defraud Sea Coach Express. Prosecutors allege they fraudulently embezzled 63 tickets, each valued at $45, totaling Le73,710.
The matter was adjourned to July 1, 2025, for continuation of proceedings. All accused remain on bail.