By Brima Sannoh
Police in Kenema say 20 persons have been detained as part of investigations into the alleged murder of popular Lebanese businessman Salim Dayeck.
Mr Dayeck, 75, was found dead in his residence on September 11, 2024.
His longtime employee, Umau Sama, who lived with him at the time of his death, is the prime suspect and he is among the 20 suspects in detention, Sub Inspector Brima James Musa, who is attached to the Media wing of the Sierra Leone Police Kenema Division, told ManoReporters.
Mr. Dayeck was one of the oldest foreign business owners in the eastern region of Sierra Leone. He had lived and did business in Kenema for over 30 years, according to people familiar with his history in the country.
The late man was resident at 26 Hanga Road, in the heart of Kenema City, at the same building housing his business. He was dealing in different types of goods, including electrical and building materials.
businessman Salim Dayeck. Sama lived with the deceased as his
employee. Image: Mohamed Mansaray.
Sama was seen as a very trusted and reliable worker to his late boss, according to people familiar with their relationship.
Sub Inspector Musa confirmed that both Mr Sama and Mr Dayeck were living together in the same building for all these years, noting that the family of the late man were resident in his home country of Lebanon.
“After the deceased was allegedly stabbed to death by the suspect and his accomplices, the shop-boy (Sama) went down the steps with the safe and shop keys belonging to the deceased to carry out his motive,” Sub Inspector Musa further explained, without giving details what the suspect’s alleged motive was.
“Our findings also revealed that the shop-boy (Sama) was spotted by a close neighbour of the deceased, Kamal Mansour. When the boy was opening the late man’s shop, he (Mansour) grew suspicious as the shop was been opened at a time no one expected a shop to be opened. A very unusual time,” the police spokesman added.
Sama was also found with “dangerous objects”, including a kitchen knife and a pair of scissors, and he also had blood stains on his trousers, Sub Inspector Musa continued.
According to the police, when Mansour tried to call Mr. Salim through his mobile phone, it rang without any response, which prompting him to immediately move downstairs and across the road as Sama was trying to open the shop.
Mansour reportedly confronted the suspect, and in the process attracting people in the neighborhood and later the police.
A subsequent search on the premises of the deceased led to the discovery of his lifeless body, in a pool of blood with deep wounds on his two arms and neck.
suspected murder of his employer, Salim Dayeck.
Image: Mohamed Mansaray.
Dayeck’s remains were later taken to the Kenema government hospital where a postmortem examination was requested, the police said.
The incident has reignited discussion around safety and security, especially for businesspeople, in Kenema.
In 2012, an Australian citizen who reportedly went to Kenema on a business venture, was killed in a local hotel. About 2013, an Indian investor was also abducted in the district, but he was later rescued by security forces.
