By: Audrey Raymonda John
43yrs old Aruna Bangura made his first appearance before Magistrate Mark Ngegba of Pademba Road court No.1 in Freetown on three court charges ranging from Fraudulent conversion Contrary to Section 20 (1) (iv) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of offence on diverse dates between 1st September 2017 to 31st October 2018 at the western area in Freetown, Fraudulently converted to his own use or benefit certain property such as Forty sacks of used shoes, hand bags, belts, two hundred electronic cigarette and other various items all to the total value of two million, three hundred and ninety-seven thousand new Leones(2,397,000). The said properties were entrusted to him by Dr. Cyprian Okoro for the purpose of sale which were properties of the said Dr. Cyprian Okoro
On count two on the 7th February 2019, he Fraudulently converted to his own use or benefit the sum of twenty one thousand new Leones(21,000) entrusted to him by Dr. Cyprian Okoro for the purpose of safe keeping. On count three on diverse dates between 1st September 2017 to 31st October 2018 in Freetown Fraudulent, the accused person also converted to his own use or benefit the cash sum of one hundred and seventy four thousand nine hundred and forty three new Leones (174, 943,00) entrusted to him by Dr. Cyprian Okoro for the purpose of safe keeping.
Assistant Superintendent of police Ibrahim S Mansaray, the Lead Prosecution witness number one Dr. Cyprian Okoro a medical doctor, recognized the accused person in the dock to be his employee who served as the company manager since 2017 to 2019.
The Lead Prosecution Witness recalled on diverse dates between 1st September 2017 to 31st October 2018, he sent five 40 feet containers to the accused containing caterpillar bulldozer, drugs and other various items around December 2018. The PW1 disclosed that someone called him from London and informed him that there are lot of fraudulent activities going on in his company. The items were sent to the accused person for him to do deposit on his account. At this stage, the prosecution sought for a short adjournment date for the tendering of the transaction documents.
Counsel representing the accused person I. Turay, applied for bail for and on behalf of the accused person that he is a Sierra Leonean resident within this jurisdiction and that, the accused person has reliable sureties who are willing and ready to go into recognizance on his behalf. He assured the court that the accused would not interfere with prosecution witness or witnesses adding that, the accused person is not a flight risk person. He made his application pursuant to section 79 2 of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965
However, Magistrate Ngegba refused bail and sent the accused person to the male correctional center in Freetown. The matter was adjourned to the 5th December 2022 for further hearing.