On September 9, 2024, Samuel Marrah, Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer of Infinity Trading Company, testified against two Lebanese Nationals and a Sierra Leonean. They are accused of importing bomb-making materials into the country without lawful authority. The accused individuals appeared before Magistrate Santigie Bangura at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown to answer the allegations.
During his testimony, Marrah recalled that between October 1, 2023, and July 9, 2024, the first accused, Hussein Antar, met him at their Wilkinson Road office and requested help to ship containers. Subsequently, Hussein informed Marrah that the containers had arrived at the Quay. Hussein wanted Marrah’s company to ship the containers but was referred to Ibrahim Bashirr Kamara for assistance.
Marrah testified that later, Hussein sent him a copy of the bill of lading and the invoice through his mobile phone, which he forwarded to Kamara. Kamara shared with him the total cost of the shipment, which was SLE 300,000. Kamara disclosed that the first accused, Hussein, paid the sum in bits.
After Marrah received a telephone call from Kamara that the containers were ready, Hussein told Marrah that the containers should be taken to 3 Mile, which they did.
Following the testimony, defense counsel I Kamara requested an adjournment to cross-examine the witness.
The accused were remanded in custody until September 11, 2024.
The three accused—Hussein Antar, 65, Jamal Antar, 65, and Sulaiman Barrie, 25—face charges including conspiracy, funding the illegal transportation and stockpiling of chemical weapons, and importing arms manufacturing materials without a license. Additional charges include possession of arms manufacturing materials, aiding and abetting, unauthorized importation and transportation of prohibited drugs, and perverting the course of justice.
According to police reports, Hussein Antar allegedly financed Samuel Marrah for the illegal movement of chemical weapons from Queen Elizabeth II Quay to a residence in Waterloo between November 11, 2023, and July 9, 2024. The defendants are also accused of conspiring to import arms manufacturing materials into Sierra Leone without proper licensing between October 1, 2023, and November 30, 2023.
Further allegations state that between November 11, 2023, and July 7, 2024, the accused unlawfully possessed arms manufacturing materials within Sierra Leone. Jamal Antar and Sulaiman Barrie are alleged to have assisted Hussein Antar and other unidentified individuals in importing and stockpiling bomb-making materials and prohibited drugs during the same timeframe.
The charge sheet also accuses the defendants of transporting prohibited drugs from Queen Elizabeth II Quay to 93 Smart Farm, off Wilkinson Road, in Freetown without legal authorization and fabricating evidence to obstruct justice.
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