By: Audrey Raymonda John
A fisherman, Alusine Kamara, has made his first appearance before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown on a charge of fraudulent conversion, contrary to Section 20 (1) (iv) (a) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of the offense, the accused, sometime in 2021 at Goderich, allegedly fraudulently converted to his own use certain properties entrusted to him by Sahr Foday Morquee. The items include a 15-horsepower outboard engine valued at Le 56,000 and a set of fishing nets valued at Le 35,000, bringing the total value to Le 91,000.
The items were reportedly given to the accused for safekeeping.
When the charge was read and explained, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Isatu Baba Musa, called its first witness, Sahr Foday Morquee, a civil engineer with the Sierra Leone Roads Authority.
In his testimony, the witness stated that he knew the accused through his late uncle’s wife, Mariama Musa. He recalled that in 2021, he acquired a boat, an outboard engine, and fishing nets worth Le 91,000 and was seeking someone to operate the boat.
According to him, Mariama Musa introduced the accused, and they agreed on a working arrangement. The accused was to receive Le 3,000 for fuel before each fishing trip and proceeds from fish sales would be shared equally.
The witness said they initially sold fish worth Le 6,000 and shared the proceeds equally. However, the accused later claimed that the engine had developed a fault and requested Le 6,000 for repairs, which the witness provided.
He further testified that after receiving the money, the accused disappeared and could not be located. The matter was reported to the police at Aberdeen Police Station. The accused was first arrested in 2022 and instructed to produce the boat, engine, and nets but failed to do so.
The witness added that the accused remained at large until March 2026, when he was rearrested and taken to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters on Pademba Road, where statements were obtained.
The witness was cross-examined by defense counsel, M. Bangura Esq.
Magistrate Fornah adjourned the matter until 1 April 2026 for further hearing.