By: Audrey Raymonda John
A 36-year-old businessman, Tijan Yarjah, appeared before Magistrate John Manso Fornah at Pademba Road Court No. 2 in Freetown, facing charges of conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretences under Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act 1916. Between 1 and 17 March 2025, at Jones Street, Western Area, Freetown.
Allegation: Yarjah allegedly conspired with unidentified individuals to defraud Reign Kamara by claiming he owned a 2014 Wrangler and a Lexus, knowing this to be false.
Yarjah purported that his brother in the U.S. would ship two containers of vehicles to Freetown, valued at USD 45,000 per container. Kamara agreed to deal only directly with Yarjah not the brother and paid USD 20,000 after the pair signed an agreement in a lawyer’s office. A video call with the alleged brother and documentation were produced during the transaction.
Despite Yarjah’s assurances that the vehicles would arrive by mid-April 2025, they never did. Kamara then reported the matter to the CID.
Under Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act 1916, false pretences (unlike larceny by trick) involve obtaining title to funds or assets through deception, as opposed to merely possessing them temporarily. Learned distinctions such as cash transfers indicating ownership explain how Yarjah’s actions fall under false pretences
Charges were read to Yarjah, but no plea was entered.
DSP Sorie Conteh presented testimony from Bashiru Mansaray, the prosecution’s second witness, detailing the transaction and Yarjah’s representations.
Yarjah’s defense did not comment publicly at this early stage.
Magistrate Fornah denied bail, citing the seriousness of the charges and the potential flight risk. Yarjah was remanded to the Male Correctional Facility in Freetown. The case was adjourned to 1 August 2025 for further proceedings.
This case underscores the legal rigor applied when trust-based business dealings go awry, especially involving substantial sums and cross-border representations. Let me know if you’d like a press release format, stakeholder summary, or translation into Krio.