By: Audrey Raymonda John
The presiding Magistrate of Pademba Road Court No.1, Marke Ngegba has granted bail to Lahai Sama in the sum of two hundred thousand Leone (New Notes) 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; witness statements of the accused.
In his statement, complainant said on Thursday 6th of April 2023, he left with his wife, children and the accused to Bo to witness OBBA celebration. He said after the celebration, the accused took them to the hotel and few minutes after, he did not see the accused neither his vehicle.
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 took him to the police station for questioning.
According to the police file, after making the report, statement was obtained from complainant at the Economic, Financial and Fraud Unit at the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarter at Pademba Road, Freetown.
After series of adjournment, Magistrate Nageba has 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 responsible citizen and must produce a national identity card depicting in or her resident in Freetown.
He said his bail should be approved by the Deputy Acting Registrar and adjourned the matter to the 10th of May 2023, for the prosecution to continue.