By: Audrey Raymonda John
Magistrate Isata Sellu Tucker, on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, committed Keifalla Kanu to the High Court for trial over allegations of fraudulent conversion of a motorbike.
Keifalla Kanu was arraigned on one count of fraudulent conversion, contrary to Section 20(1)(iv) of the Larceny Act of 1916. According to the particulars of the offense, Kanu is accused of fraudulently converting a black Bajaj motorbike with registration number AXB 040, valued at NLe 27,000, which had been entrusted to him by Mohamed Koroma for commercial use. The alleged incident took place on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Kaningo Malama, Lumley, Freetown.
In her committal ruling, Magistrate Tucker stated that, after reviewing the evidence presented by both factual and formal witnesses, along with the accused’s statement to the police, she was satisfied that sufficient evidence had been provided by the prosecution to warrant Kanu’s committal to the High Court.
As a result, the accused was committed to the High Court and granted bail in the sum of 10,000 Leones with one surety of a similar amount. The surety, Magistrate Tucker specified, must be a senior citizen residing in Freetown and must provide proof of address and identity. The bail will be subject to approval by the Director of Adult Rehabilitation (DAR).
Kanu has been in custody since the onset of the case and has made 23 subsequent court appearances before being committed to the High Court. He does not have legal representation.
In a separate case, Mohamed Alpha was also sent to the High Court for trial, facing charges of fraudulently converting a TVS motorbike valued at NLe 24,000. The accused was charged with one count of fraudulent conversion. The police allege that Alpha, between January 1 and 31, 2025, at No. 21 Regent Road, Lumley, fraudulently converted to his own use a TVS motorbike with registration number AWR 096, belonging to Josely Abdul Rahman Bangura.
Magistrate Tucker, in her ruling, noted that while the evidence presented by the police was not overwhelming, it was sufficient to warrant the accused’s committal to the High Court. Alpha was granted bail in the sum of NLe 10,000, with the bail to be approved by the DAR.