Kenya Airways has been taken to court in Sierra Leone over lost luggage. The management of the Freetown office of the airline has been served with a writ to appear in court within 14 days. A lawyer representing an aggrieved passenger is claiming recovery of lost luggage, valued at USD6,374 (KES577, 229) as well as damages for breach of contract and costs. The passenger reportedly used KQ flight from Dubai to Freetown through Nairobi on October 20. On arrival in Freetown, Kaditu Kanu claimed that her hand luggage that she says was collected by the airline’s officials, was missing. She says promises by the Freetown office to act have not borne fruit. Mrs. Kanu claims to have lost a suitcase containing 280 pieces of mobile phones which she had bought in Dubai, worth USD6,374. A letter dated November 11, sent to the airline, blamed its “unprofessional and negligent behaviour” for causing the loss. In the letter, Roland A. Nylander acting for Mrs. Kanu issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Kenya Airways. “I so demand that you return to my client the said luggage within 48 hours upon receipt of this letter, failing which I shall ... institute legal proceedings against you…,” the letter read. But Kenya Airways country manager, Gerald Wilson, said his office doesn’t handle such matters locally. He said in an interview that prior to filing of the suit, he had asked the head office in Nairobi and was awaiting action. Mr. Wilson said the treatment of the case by the media in Freetown was “scornful.” He said lost baggage complaints “don’t happen frequently.” He said the reputation of the airline in the West African country was intact. Meanwhile, a letter from Kenya Airways, directed to Mrs. Kanu indicates that the airline has tried and failed to have the aggrieved passenger produce her boarding pass on the day in question. “Whenever somebody loses their bag, the airline cannot stop them from going to court,” said Mr. Wilson. The court in the writ noted that a failure by the airline to appear within the stipulated period would cause it to pass judgment.