Sea Coach Manager in Court
By Fatima Sesay
Micah Tanimu, General Manager of Sea Coach Express, testified on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, before Magistrate Sahr Kekura at Pademba Road Court No. 1 against two sailors, Samuel Benjamin Moriba and Alfred Karim Koroma. The two sailors were arraigned for allegedly stealing various items valued at over one hundred thousand new Leones from a customer at Sea Coach Express. According to the charge sheet, on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at Sir Samuel Lewis Road, Aberdeen, the accused conspired to commit a felony—larceny. It further stated that they stole a black suitcase, a grey Dell laptop, a black Samsung A23 mobile phone, and other assorted items valued at 124,800 new Leones, property of Dr. Sheriff Emil, while in the custody of Sea Coach Express management. In his testimony, Tanimu stated that he serves as both General Manager and a Technician at Sea Coach Express. He identified the accused as staff members and recalled receiving a call from a coordinator at Mercy Ship regarding missing luggage on February 9, 2025. Upon receiving this information, he assured the coordinator that he would investigate the matter. Tanimu explained that he reviewed CCTV footage from his office, where he saw the first accused, Moriba, handling the coordinator’s luggage, moving it from the terminal to the car park. The footage showed Moriba taking three bags and placing them aside. When confronted, Moriba initially denied involvement, but upon viewing the CCTV footage, he admitted that the second accused, Koroma, had kept the bags. Koroma was also called into the office, and Tanimu subsequently contacted police officers from the Aberdeen Police Station, handing over both accused persons. The CCTV footage was transferred to a memory stick and tendered as court evidence. The footage was played in court, where Tanimu identified Moriba handling the luggage. During cross-examination, defense counsel S. Smart applied for bail on behalf of the accused. However, Magistrate Kekura denied bail, citing the seriousness of the offense and the likelihood of interference with witnesses. Both accused were remanded at the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The case was adjourned to April 11, 2025, for continuation.
