By: Audrey Raymonda John
Augustine Kainessie Mandigo has been committed to the High Court to stand trial for the offence of obtaining money by false pretence, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
Mandigo was arrested on 14 January 202 following allegations that between 2024 and 2025, at Goderich in Freetown, he fraudulently obtained the sum of Le48,000 from one Moses Aiah Komba. According to police records, the accused falsely claimed to have zinc sheets for sale, knowing the claim to be untrue.
During the preliminary investigation, the prosecution called Detective Police Constable (DPC) Mohamed Mattia, badge number 19841, attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Headquarters, Hill Station, as its witness.
DPC Mattia identified the accused in court and told Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah that the matter was reported to him on 3 May 2025 while he was on duty at CID Headquarters.
He testified that he and his colleague, DPC 14940 Samsie Moseray, obtained statements from the complainant and a witness. He further stated that the complainant presented a payment receipt, which was kept in police custody and tendered in court as Exhibits A1-A3.
The witness explained that on 14 January 2026, he was informed by DPC 14942 Moseray that the accused had been arrested and was in custody. A charged statement was subsequently obtained after the accused was cautioned and questioned in Krio. The statement was recorded in English, read over, and explained to the accused, who confirmed its correctness by affixing his right thumbprint. The document was admitted as Exhibits B1–B7.
He added that the accused was cautioned again, after which a final charge statement was obtained. This statement was signed by DPC Moseray as a witness, while DPC Mattia signed as the recorder. The document was tendered and marked as Exhibits C1-C7.
In his ruling, Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah said he was satisfied with the evidence presented by the prosecution and accordingly committed the accused to the High Court for trial.