By Jeneba Conteh
In a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the murder of journalist Samuel Brima Mattia, the police have submitted compelling evidence against three individuals, including a station manager. The accused—journalist Joseph Mendel Lamin, known as “Manager Dust,” along with bike rider Morlia Kamara and driver Umaru Timbo—faced Magistrate Sahr Kekura at the Pademba Road Court No. 1 in Freetown on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. They are charged with conspiracy to commit murder and murder, in violation of the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861, which the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act 2021 has amended.
The prosecution alleges that on January 15, 2025, the three accused, alongside unidentified accomplices, conspired to and subsequently murdered Samuel Brima Mattia at the Voice of Peace and Development (VOPAD) Radio Station located in Kissi Town, Waterloo. This incident has sent shockwaves through the local media community, raising concerns about the safety of journalists in the region. During the court proceedings, Inspector Abubakarr Kargbo provided testimony that included the presentation of numerous documents, identified as Exhibit D1 through D17. These documents contained recorded conversations involving the second accused, Morlia Kamara, which referenced the first accused, Lamin. The prosecution has forwarded these documents to the Cyber Unit and the Law Officers’ Department for additional scrutiny and analysis, underscoring the seriousness of the allegations.
Inspector Kargbo further detailed his interactions with the first accused, Joseph Mendel Lamin, during an interview conducted on February 7, 2025. The interview was held in Krio, a language widely spoken in Sierra Leone, and the responses were meticulously recorded in English. The accused confirmed the accuracy of his statements, which he endorsed by signing with his right thumbprint. The inspector noted that he acted as the recorder during this process, with a colleague present as a witness.
Additionally, the inspector revealed that he and another officer, Inspector K. Matthew, conducted a similar interview with the second accused, Morlia Kamara, in February 2025. This interview also focused on the conspiracy to commit murder and was conducted in Krio, translated into English, and confirmed by the accused, who likewise signed with thumbprints.
As the case progresses, it has been adjourned to Tuesday, May 20, 2025, for further hearings. The gathering of evidence, including digital communications and eyewitness testimonies, will be crucial in determining the outcome of this high-profile case. The murder of Samuel Brima Mattia has raised alarm bells regarding the treatment of journalists and the pressing need for justice in cases involving violence against media personnel in Sierra Leone.
