By: Audrey Raymonda John
Andrew Danny Stephanus Lahai, a 38-year-old businessman, was arraigned before Magistrate John Manso Fornah of Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Monday, 20th October 2025, facing charges of obtaining money by false pretenses, contrary to Section 32(1) of the Larceny Act 1916.
According to the particulars of the offence, between Sunday, 21st August 2022, and Sunday, 31st March 2024, in Freetown, Western Area, Lahai allegedly obtained the sum of $43,000 (Forty-three thousand United States Dollars) from Victoria Johnson by falsely pretending that he would provide Canadian visas for her and her family and facilitate their travel to Canada, knowing this claim to be false.
When the charge was read and explained to the defendant, no plea was entered.
The prosecution, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sorie Conteh, presented the first prosecution witness, Victoria I. J. Johnson, an accountant at the University of Sierra Leone. Johnson testified that she recognized the defendant through a man named Martin, who had introduced her to Lahai. Johnson recalled that, between 21st August 2022 and 21st March 2024, Martin took her husband, Ishmeal Koroma, to the defendant to inquire about a Canadian visa program, and that Martin later confirmed the program seemed legitimate.
Victoria Johnson further testified that her husband negotiated a partial payment of Le 45,000 for the program. In return, the defendant issued a receipt for the payment, stating that the visas were for six people. She was handed six passport booklets but later received emails confirming visas for only five people. Victoria later realized that the visa dates provided by the defendant were invalid. These documents were tendered as Exhibit A1-6.
Victoria also stated that Lahai received $43,050 from her, in addition to the passport booklets, but she was unable to retrieve either her passport books or a refund. She eventually reported the matter to the police at the CID Headquarters on Pademba Road in Freetown, where she made a statement.
The defendant’s counsel, C.M.B. Amara Esq., cross-examined the witness and requested the adoption of his previous bail application.
However, Magistrate Fornah refused bail due to the seriousness of the offence and remanded Lahai to the Male Correctional Centre in Freetown. The case has been adjourned to 28th October 2025 for further proceedings.