September 16, 2021
By Audrey John
Mabinty Titi Bangura made her first appearance before magistrate Sahr Keikura of Pademba road court No.1 in Freetown on one count charge to wit Obtaining money by false pretense contrary to section 32(i) of the Larceny Act of 1916.
Mabinty Bangura was refused bail by magistrate Sahr Keikura and was sent to the female correctional center in Freetown.
According to the particulars of offence on a date between 1st August 2021 and 12th August 2021 at No. 22 Magazine Wharf the Western Area in Freetown with intent to defraud obtained from Isha Kamara the sum of seventy four million Leones (74,000,000) by false pretending that she have four hundred bags of fish for sale, knowing the same to be false.
First Prosecution witness, Isha Kamara who is residing in Guinea as a business woman said she knew the accused person for a long period and recalled on a date between 1st August and 12th August 2021 something transfer between herself and the accused person.
The accused person called her and informed her that her friends have Fishes for sale, and told her that one person have three hundred bags and the other person have one hundred bags and they agreed on two hundred and fifteen thousand Leones per bag of fish and she gave the accused person the sum of fifty million Leones and the fish total amount for all was eighty six million Leones.
The accused insisted that she gave the remaining money because the owner will not accept half of the money and she asked one Abdul to accompany her to a Fullah Business man to collect twenty five million Leones, whilst on her way the accused person called her that the owner of the fish has arrived she give the accused person twenty million Leones then and she gave the money to the man she purported that he is the seller of the fish and she called one Toufie and informed him that he has the fish and it was given to her.
Counsel representing the accused person Elvis Kargbo applied for bail on behalf of his client that she is a Sierra Leonean and a married woman and her husband is ready to enter into recognizance on her behalf and will not jump bail.
Counsel said she is a pressure patient and will avail herself in court on every adjourned date and will not interfere with prosecution witness or witnesses.
He made his application pursuant to section 79 (2) and (3) of the Criminal procedure Act No.32 of 1965.
Magistrate Keikura in given his ruling said having heard the application for bail on behalf of the accused, taken into consideration the community the accused person resides and of that view if granted bail at this stage she will be a flight risk in view of the aforesaid he refused bail and send the accused person to the female correctional center in Freetown.
Asp Ibrahim Mansaray is prosecuting the matter which is adjourned to the 15th September 2021.