By: Audrey Raymonda John
Komba Kaminty, a laborer, made his first appearance before Magistrate Santigie Bangura of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on two counts of Obtaining Money by False Pretence, Contrary to section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of the offense on a date unknown between February and April 2024 while in Brazil and through money transfer, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of Five Thousand United States dollars ($5000) equivalent to One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Leones ( NLe 120,000) from Isatu Bangura through Mamoud Jalloh, both Sierra Leonean based in the United States of America, by false pretending that he will provide genuine visas and facilitate the movement of her, Yusuf Bangura, Fatmata Bangura and Bai Bangura from Sierra to Brazil, knowing same to be false.
Count two further stated that on the same date and place above, with intent to defraud, you obtained the sum of Two Thousand United States dollars ($2,000) equivalent to forty-eight Thousand Leones ( Nle 48 000) from Agnes Wotto through Christian Nicol by falsely pretending that you would provide a genuine visa and facilitate her movement from Sierra Leone to Brazil, knowing this to be false.
The plea was taken when the charges were read and explained to the accused person.
The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, sought a short adjournment date as his witness was not present in court.
The defense counsel, C Davies, applied for bail on behalf of the accused person, who is a Sierra Leonean resident of Freetown. He has reliable sureties and is willing and ready to go into recognizance on his behalf. He will not interfere with the prosecution witnesses or witnesses, nor will he jump bail. He made his application pursuant to section 79 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Bangura refused bail on the gravity of the crime charged, sent him to the male correctional facility in Freetown, and adjourned the matter to 12 November 2024 for further hearing.
