FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE – British national Jihad Basma, along with Sheku Kabba and Tamba Lebbie, have been remanded at the Male Correctional Center in Freetown following allegations of embezzling a 264-carat diamond.
The trio appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2, facing charges of conspiracy, embezzlement, and receiving stolen goods.
The alleged incident, according to police reports, took place between May 20 and 26, 2024, in Moryonfeh Village, Kono District. The accused reportedly conspired with unidentified individuals to fraudulently embezzle the diamond, valued at approximately $42.24 million, and owned by Benjamin Merer. Basma is alleged to have received the diamond, despite knowing it was stolen.
In court, Basma pleaded not guilty to the charge of receiving stolen goods.
Magistrate Bangura noted that there were originally four defendants, but one, Sahr Lebbie, has been absent since the case began.
The court adjourned to allow for Lebbie’s appearance before the charges could be formally presented.
State counsel Yusuf Isaac Sesay, prosecuting the case, requested an amendment to the indictment due to Lebbie’s continued absence.
Sesay argued for the removal of Lebbie’s name from the official charges while keeping it on file, citing Section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Act of 1916. He noted that Lebbie’s absence was causing undue delays, as he had failed to appear in court despite being granted bail.
Defense lawyer Jessie Jengo, representing the accused, did not object to the amendment, recognizing that it would help expedite the trial.
The first prosecution witness, Sahr Moiwa, a diamond miner from Kono District, testified that he worked on the same site as the accused.
He recounted an incident between April and May 2024, where he discovered a diamond on the pit floor after returning to the site. Moiwa described the diamond as clean, white, and eight-sided. He handed it to Lebbie, who then passed it to his brother, Tamba.
Moiwa claimed that the accused congratulated him and assured him that Merer would compensate him for the find. However, Moiwa fell ill and, upon returning to the site the next day, noticed that the accused were avoiding him. When he inquired about the diamond, an argument broke out, leading to a physical altercation with Lebbie.
Following advice from the village chief’s wife, Moiwa reported the matter to the Ministry of Mines. A subsequent investigation by a mining officer was conducted, during which Lebbie claimed that Moiwa had found only a 27-carat diamond. Moiwa insisted, however, that the diamond was 264 carats.
Moiwa testified that while in police custody, Kabba admitted that the diamond was indeed 264 carats and was in the possession of Sahr Lebbie and Jihad Basma but had not yet been sold.
The case has since been transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters for further investigation.
The trial continues.
