By: Audrey Raymonda John
The presiding Magistrate of Pademba Road Court No.1, Marke Ngegba has granted bail to Lahai Sama a vehicle Fraudster bail in the sum of two hundred new Leones with a surety in like sum.
The accused is standing preliminary trial on a count charge of Fraudulent conversation contrary to section 20(1) (iv)(a) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
It was alleged by the police on the charge sheet that on Saturday 8th April 2023 at the Bo School compound, in the Kakuwa Chiefdom, in Bo judicial district, in the southern region of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the accused fraudulently converted certain property that is to say one white Honda pilot vehicle with registration number ASE 118 valued one hundred and forty-five thousand six hundred Leones ( Le 145,600,00) new note entrusted to him by George Agbeigbema Dambo for the purpose of safekeeping.
The case file of the accused C/S 1466 /2023 contained the charges, a transfer case enquiry file of the report of Fraudulent conversation, the statement of the complainant, his witnesses and that of the accused.
In his statement, the complainant said on Thursday 6th of April 2023, he left with his wife, children and the accused to Bo to witness the OBBA celebration. He said after the celebration, the accused took them to the hotel and a few minutes after, he did not see the accused or his vehicle.
The complainant said he was also called by one Augustine who informed him that the accused reported to him that he did not see the vehicle. He said he arrested the accused and to him to the police station for questioning.
According to the police file, after making the report, a statement was obtained from the complainant at the Economic, Financial and Fraud Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters on Pademba Road.
After a series of adjournments, Magistrate Nageba finally granted the accused bail in the sum of two hundred new Leones with a surety in like sum.
Among other things, Magistrate Nageba said the surety should be a responsible citizen and must produce a national identity card depicting in or her residence in Freetown.
He said his bail should be approved by the Deputy Acting Registrar and adjourned the matter to the 26th of May 2023, for the prosecution to continue.