On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, Sam Sesay, a 22-year-old caretaker, appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown. Sesay faces two charges: conspiracy to commit a crime and larceny, both related to an alleged theft involving a significant sum of money.
The charges detail that on August 20, 2024, at #5 Springer Street, off Johnson Street, Aberdeen, Freetown, Sesay, along with unidentified accomplices, allegedly conspired to commit larceny. The second count accuses Sesay of stealing 150,000 Leones, the property of Joan Keister, wife of former Leone Stars coach John Keister.
In court, Joan Keister testified that she resides at the aforementioned address and is the Chief Executive Officer of Cotton Tree Foundation, a non-governmental organization. Keister identified Sesay as her employee and caretaker. She explained that on August 20, 2024, she traveled abroad, leaving Sesay in charge of her home, including access to her safe, which contained the sum of 150,000 Leones.
Upon returning from her trip to the UK, Keister discovered that the money was missing from the safe. She immediately contacted her husband, John Keister, who was in Bo at the time. When she inquired about the missing funds, Sesay claimed no knowledge of the theft and insisted that no one had visited the house during her absence.
Keister reported the incident to the Aberdeen Police Station. Subsequently, a relative of Sesay informed her that Sesay had attempted to give his younger brother 5,000 Leones from the stolen amount, although the brother declined the money. This information led to Sesay’s arrest and further police investigation.
Sesay, who was not represented by legal counsel, had the opportunity to cross-examine Keister during the court proceedings.
Magistrate Bangura denied Sesay bail due to the severity of the charges and adjourned the case to September 6, 2024. The matter is being prosecuted by Sergeant 9155 Dwight Macathy.
