By: Audrey Raymonda John
Two employees of Amnet Filling Station – 26-year-old assistant manager Noah Aleem Bun Kamara and 47-year-old station manager Joe Menfallah -have been committed to the High Court in Freetown to stand trial on charges of conspiracy to defraud and embezzlement.
The ruling was made by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown.
According to the particulars of offence, between Thursday 1 May 2025 and Friday 20 February 2026 at Amnet Filling Station in Makeni, Bombali Shebora Chiefdom, Northern Province of Sierra Leone, the accused persons allegedly conspired with others unknown to defraud the company.
In a second count, it is alleged that both defendants fraudulently embezzled the sum of four hundred and seventy-three thousand eight hundred Leones (NLe 473,800), money received from customers on behalf of Amnet Filling Station.
When the charges were read and explained, no plea was taken as the matter was at committal proceedings.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, prosecuting, informed the court that the case is ready for prosecution.
Defence counsel F.A. Kamara applied for bail, arguing that both accused are family men with children and that their detention would cause serious hardship to their families. He therefore urged the court to exercise discretion in their favour.
Magistrate Fornah stated that he had carefully reviewed the prosecution’s evidence, including exhibits, voluntary caution statements, and charge statements. He noted that he was satisfied that there was sufficient evidence linking the accused persons to the alleged offences.
He therefore committed both defendants to stand trial at the High Court.
However, the magistrate granted bail in the sum of NLe 250,000 each, with one surety each in like sum. The sureties must be responsible citizens residing in Freetown with fixed addresses and must present valid national identification cards. The bail conditions are subject to approval by the Master and Registrar of the High Court.