By: Audrey Raymonda John
Thirty-three-year-old Saio Turay, a surveyor, and thirty-year-old Fara Bangalie Kamara, also a surveyor, made another appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on four charges. The charges include conspiracy contrary to law, and three counts of obtaining money by false pretenses, contrary to Section 32 (1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, between 1st and 10th May 2024, at the Youyi Building Canteen in the Western Area of Freetown, the accused conspired with other unknown individuals to commit a felony, namely obtaining money by false pretenses.
Count two further stated that on the same date and at the same location, the accused persons obtained the sum of fifty thousand Leones (Le50,000) from Ansumana Conteh by falsely pretending that they had land for sale located at Grafton Highway, knowing the claim to be false.
Count three outlined that on 1st May 2024, at #7c Hill Cut Road, Wilberforce, Western Area, the accused obtained the sum of five thousand five hundred Leones (Le5,500) from Ansumana Conteh by falsely pretending that they would prepare land documents for him, knowing the claim to be false.
Count four further stated that on the same date and at the same location, the second accused, Fara Bangalie Kamara, obtained two thousand Leones (Le2,000) from Ansumana Conteh by falsely pretending that he had surveyed a one-and-a-half-town lot situated at Grafton Highway, knowing the claim to be false.
When the charges were read and explained to the defendants, they did not enter a plea during their first appearance.
The prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, applied for a bench warrant against the defendants and their sureties. Magistrate Fornah granted the prosecutor’s application and issued a bench warrant for the absent defendants and sureties. The case was adjourned to 15th October 2025.