By: Audrey Raymonda John
Jocelyn Leon Thorpe a 38 years old man was on Tuesday 21st November 2023 sent on remand awaiting sentence by magistrate Mark Ngegba of Court No1 after he was found guilty of obtaining 800 million old Leones from Suliaman Manoh Sesay for a two storey building house.
The accused made his first appearance in court and was arraigned on 31 counts charges of Obtaining money by false pretences contrary to section 32 (1)of the larceny Act 1916
According to the indictments, it was alleged that the accused Jocelyn Leon Thorpe on diverse dates between the 23rd January 2019 and Saturday 31st July 2021, in Freetown with intent to defraud obtained the total sum of eight hundred and eighty millions old Leones from Suliaman Manoh Sesay by falsely pretending that he has two storey building at No. 2 Upper Waterloo Street, Freetown for sale knowing same to be false.
When the charges were read and put to the accused by the court clerk, he pleaded guilty to all the 31 counts charges.
He has no legal representation made on his behalf.
The prosecutor CSP Juan Bull informed the bench that the case was fact as charge.
Lawyer Bull in a brief fact submitted that the accused person on diverse date obtained the sum of 880 million old Leone from the complainants covering the period of January 23 2019 to 31st July 2021.
She said the accused made representation to the witness that he has a house for sale and money was paid to him but the said house was unavailable.
She also intimated the court that there is receipt to that effect.
Having listened to the plea of the accused and that of the prosecution, magistrate Ngegba found the accused guilty as charge and therefore deferred sentencing to the 27th November 2023 whiles the accused was remanded in prison.
