Mohamed Kamanda, a driver attached to the House of Parliament has appeared in court over the theft of a vehicle belonging to a senior member of Parliament.
He made his first appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown. He faces one count of larceny contrary to Section 2 of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, on Tuesday, 30th December 2025, at the Parliament Building on Tower Hill in Freetown, Kamanda allegedly stole a Nissan Armada V8 Jeep, registration number MDR 001, valued at seventy-five thousand US dollars, along with 20,000 Leones in cash and a pair of sunglasses. The total value of the stolen property, belonging to Honourable Dixon Momoh Rogers, Chief Whip of Parliament, was estimated at 1,827,890 Leones.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, presented its first witness, Princess Christina Abioseh Dumbuya, a parliamentary staff member.
Dumbuya testified that she was alerted to the theft on 5th January 2026 by the chief driver, who reported the vehicle missing. A check of the logbook revealed Kamanda’s name and signature for the date in question. All attempts to contact Kamanda and his wife failed as their phones were switched off.
The court heard that a coordinated effort involving Hon. Rogers, the witness, and the wife of another MP, Hon. Emerson Lamina, led to the defendant’s apprehension. A cousin of the defendant, Abass, assisted police by arranging a meeting under the pretence of purchasing the vehicle for 100 million Leones. Police officers, operating in plain clothes, arrested Kamanda at Alpha Bah Eastern after Jui. He subsequently led them to a guest house where the vehicle was recovered.
The defence counsel V. Gaber Esq. represented the defendant requested for a bail for his client. Magistrate Fornah denied bail, citing the seriousness of the offence. The matter was adjourned to 23rd January 2026.
