By: Audrey Raymonda John
Twenty-six-year-old Noah Aleem Bun Kamara, an Assistant Manager, and 47-year-old Joe Menfallah, a Station Manager, both employees of Amnet Filling Station in Makeni, have been remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown by Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2.
The two accused persons are facing two counts of offences: Conspiracy to Defraud Contrary to Law and Embezzlement Contrary to Section 17(1)(b) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
According to the particulars of offence, between *1 May 2025 and 20 February 2026, at Amnet Filling Station in Makeni, Bombali Shebora Chiefdom, Northern Province, the accused persons allegedly conspired together and with other persons unknown to defraud Amnet Filling Station.
The second count alleges that during the same period, the accused persons fraudulently embezzled the sum of *Le473,800*, which had been received from customers on behalf of Amnet Filling Station.
When the charges were read and explained to the accused persons, no plea was taken because the matter is before the court by way of committal proceedings.
Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sorie Conteh, the second prosecution witness, DPC 17712 Mohamed Lahun, attached to the Economic, Financial and Fraud Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Pademba Road, testified that he recognized both the complainant and the accused persons.
The witness recalled that on 23 January 2026, the complainant, Isatu Bah, reported a case of conspiracy to defraud and embezzlement against the two accused persons. He said the matter was assigned to him and DPC 19325 Amara C.A. for investigation.
According to the witness, statements were obtained from the complainant and her witnesses. He informed the court that these statements had remained in police custody and were produced and tendered as exhibits to form part of the court record.
The witness further testified that the complainant provided several documents, including a Vista Bank statement, NPSL Limited records, shift handover documents from Amnet, and salary payment records. These documents were also retained in police custody and tendered before the court as exhibits.
He said that on 19 February 2026, investigators wrote a letter to the Local Unit Commander (LUC) of the Makeni Police Division requesting assistance in the arrest of the accused persons. The correspondence was subsequently tendered as an exhibit.
DPC Lahun further testified that on 20 February 2026, he, together with DPC Amara C.A. and the complainant, travelled from Freetown to Makeni, where both accused persons were arrested and brought to Freetown on the same day.
The witness stated that voluntary caution statements were obtained separately from the accused persons. They were cautioned and questioned in Krio, and their responses were recorded in English. At the conclusion of the interviews, the statements were read and explained to them. According to the witness, both accused persons admitted that the statements were true and correct and endorsed them with their right thumbprints. The statements were witnessed by the investigator and subsequently tendered in court as exhibits.
He further told the court that on 17 April 2026, both accused persons were formally charged with conspiracy to defraud and embezzlement. Their charge statements were obtained using the same procedure as the voluntary caution statements and were also tendered before the court as exhibits.
At the conclusion of the proceedings, Magistrate Fornah refused bail and ordered that both accused persons be remanded at the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown pending further hearings.
The matter was adjourned until 26 June 2026 for continuation.