CID Wraps Up Kono District Diamond Theft Probe
Personnel at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters in Freetown have concluded their investigation into an alleged conspiracy to commit a felony in Peyima, Kamara Chiefdom, Kono district. The case centers on the suspected theft of a stone believed to be a diamond.
The suspects involved in the case are Sheku Kabba (alias ID Card), Sahr Lebbie, and Tamba Lebbie, accused of stealing the stone from a mining plot reportedly owned by Benjamin Mere, a British national, in May 2024. Initially reported to weigh 75 carats, the National Minerals Agency (NMA) verified the stone’s weight to be 20.28 carats.
Following the investigation, the CID has released the three suspects on bail pending further legal proceedings. It was uncovered that the stone was legally purchased and registered by Jihad Basma, a licensed diamond dealer and exporter in Kono district. Basma confirmed to CID officials that he had lawfully acquired and documented the 20.28 carat diamond.
The case file has now been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal guidance. There are indications that Mr. Foday Mansaray, Director General of the Petroleum Directorate, and Kai Lawrence Mbayo, Deputy Minister of Sports, are also linked to the diamond dispute.
As the investigation progresses, the CID remains committed to uncovering all details surrounding the case to ensure justice is served.
Source: Global Times Newspaper
