Freetown — Police yesterday arrested four Guinean soldiers at Sierra International Hotel on Rawdon Street, Freetown for entering the country without proper documents to justify their mission.

Head of police media, Inspector Ibrahim Samura said the military officers entered Sierra Leone on Sunday through Kambia onboard three Toyota jeeps with registration numbers RC 00630, RC 1294 and RC 44.

Though the identity of these Guinean soldiers is yet to be established as police are still investigating the matter, it was disclosed that Isha Sunni, a business woman and resident of Hill Slope Drive who claimed to be the host of the foreigners has been arrested alongside Isaac Barchichat, a Canadian businessman and Pouidan Kreo Sigui, a Chadian.

The arrest came after journalists informed the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of operations Richard Moigbe about the movement of the strangers.

"They were all over the place. I saw other vehicles loaded with their business partners coming in and out of the hotel. We observed their movement keenly before we reported to the police," one of the journalists who spoke under condition of anonymity told Concord Times.

However, sources say the soldiers were recruited as special security guards for Barchichat, the Canadian businessman, while coming to Sierra Leone.

Inspector Samura said Barchichat has told the police that he is a businessman who is in the country to trade in gold and other commodities.

"He also explained that he was planning to bring machines that would transform waste materials into electricity into the country and hopes to meet with the minister of agriculture to discuss the issue with him," Samura said.

Efforts to reach the arrested persons proved futile.